In 2025, artist Jade Akamarre was invited to collaborate with The Block contestants Robby and Mat on their House 5 Living & Dining Room. The partnership produced one of the season’s most talked-about design moments: a large-scale Aboriginal artwork that not only transformed the space but also became one of the defining features of their winning room reveal in Week Five.
The process began well before painting. Jade facetimed with Robby and Mat on the Tuesday morning for a creative consultation, where she was given a clear insight into their mood board, palette and design direction. The pair wanted their living and dining area to feel grounded in the environment of Daylesford, drawing inspiration from its natural tones and textures. Jade responded by weaving these inspirations together with her own artistic language of track lines and Dreaming stories, rooted in her Alyawarre heritage. The collaboration was both practical and cultural—measuring the wall precisely, interpreting the colours of Daylesford and ensuring the final work would feel not only visually harmonious but spiritually connected to place.
The final painting was ambitious: 2.3 × 1.3 metres, a commanding scale designed to anchor the heart of the room. With an incredibly tight timeline, Jade completed the work in just two and a half days. The canvas was then carefully prepared, flown from Adelaide to Melbourne and installed directly onto the feature wall—delivered on a Friday afternoon just in time for the Sunday night reveal. Its presence was immediate and undeniable, drawing the eye and tying the entire scheme together. For the judges, it was one of the elements that elevated House 5 above the competition, securing Robby and Mat the week’s win.
For Jade, this collaboration represented more than just a commission. It was a chance to place contemporary Aboriginal art at the centre of a mainstream design platform, reaching millions of viewers across Australia and beyond. The piece acted as both a bold aesthetic statement and a cultural bridge, showing how storytelling, heritage and Country can infuse modern interiors with a deeper resonance.
The momentum continued after the reveal. Media outlets including RealEstate.com.au, Domain, New Idea and Nine highlighted the artwork as a major feature of the space, celebrating the way it fused seamlessly with the room’s architecture and furnishings. Audiences not only admired the visual impact but also connected with the narrative underpinning the work—the story of Country, memory and identity, translated into contemporary design.
To extend this moment, Jade released the painting as a limited-edition artwork: the Daylesford Dreaming Print. Available exclusively through Pwerle Gallery, this print allows collectors and Block enthusiasts alike to bring a piece of the winning room into their own homes. Measuring true to the spirit of the original, it continues to honour the story that began with a mood board, evolved into a two-day creative sprint and ultimately became a televised design triumph.
This project is a testament to Jade’s ability to respond quickly, create at scale and still hold cultural depth at the centre of her practice. It stands as an example of how collaboration between art, design and storytelling can redefine spaces, connect audiences and leave a lasting impression—both in the home and on the national stage.
