In Australian Aboriginal lore, the magpie is symbolic of provision, motherly love and protection. Legend has it that when the world was created, the sky was pressed too tightly to the land and the light of the sun could not shine fully upon the earth. The magpie took pity on the humans fumbling in darkness, and gathered sticks to pry an opening between the earth and sky so that mankind could have light. Here, the magpie is the mother of light. A print with a creation myth built into its title: it hangs on the wall and it tells a story.

Alexandra Gallagher is an award-winning British multidisciplinary artist working across collage, street art, prints, painting and mixed media. Her art celebrates the surreal and sublime, delving into memory, dreams and imagination with a strong focus on feminist narratives, weaving layers of rich symbolism into layered, dreamlike compositions that invite viewers to uncover hidden meanings and personal interpretations. Her accolades include Saatchi Showdown Surrealism Second Place Winner, Secret Art Prize Runner-Up 2016, London Contemporary Art Prize 2018 finalist, and shortlistings for the Rise Art Prize and Zealous X, and her art has been described as "Rococo meets the Lower East Side".

Edition: 25
Signed: Yes, hand-signed, numbered and stamped by the artist
Medium: Giclée on 310gsm 100% cotton rag paper, mouldmade, acid free (pH neutral), archival pigment ink
Paper size: 60 × 60cm
Year: 2024
Certificate: Accompanied by certificate of authenticity