Magnificent one-piece quokka by top Oaxacan woodcarving master Luis Pablo.
The quokka is a small marsupial native to Australia, famous worldwide for its permanently smiling face, and has been called the happiest animal on earth. Luis Pablo captures that irresistible quality perfectly. He carved it upright and relaxed, with that gentle, contented expression that has made the quokka an internet sensation and a genuine symbol of joy.
The painting is pure Luis Pablo, confident, graphic, and full of character. The body is covered in dense black brushstroke marks on warm orange, the face striped in yellow with bright blue-rimmed eyes that are frankly adorable, and the tail and feet painted in bold purple, an unexpected color choice that is exactly right. The white belly carries small teal drops, a quiet detail that rewards a close look.
Luis Pablo has an extraordinary gift for choosing subjects that resonate, and a quokka, the happiest animal on earth, carved by one of Oaxaca's most joyful artists, feels like a perfect match. Wonderful.
