28/05/2026
Today, on National Sorry Day, we honour the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of the Stolen Generations and their families.
As a tribute, we are sharing Julie Dowling’s powerful painting Black Madonna: Omega (2004) — a work that speaks to the grief, strength, and unbroken love of First Nations families.
Dowling created this piece as a tribute to the mothers of the Stolen Generations, whose children were forcibly taken by government and church institutions.
As she explains:
“I made this painting in honour of First Nation mothers, whose children were forcibly stolen from them by white governments and institutions, in order to assimilate the children.
In Roman Orthodox Catholic art, there are early depictions of the Madonna and Child (Jesus) as black people, which continues today.
I wanted to hold a mirror up to the hypocrisy of governments that honour the sacredness of a black Madonna and child, while at the same time stealing First Nation children from their mothers.” — artist statement.
Today we remember.
We acknowledge the truth.
And we stand with survivors, families, and communities whose stories continue to shape this nation.
--
Julie Dowling. Black Madonna: Omega, 2004. Synthetic polymer paint, red ochre, glitter and metallic paint on canvas, 120 x 100 cm. Gift of Brigitte Braun, 2017. © Julie Dowling / Copyright Agency
