First Nations Artwork – Building Connection
Ivanhoe Grammar School is proud to showcase commissioned artwork by First Nations artist Coree Thorpe on the 2026 First Nations sports uniforms for the upcoming Reconciliation Round.
Coree Thorpe is a Melbourne-based artist of Yorta Yorta, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Wurundjeri heritage. His artistic practice is deeply grounded in connection to culture, to community, and to Country.
Originally commissioned in 2024 for Ivanhoe Grammar School as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan the artwork Building Connection, 2024, Resin on wood, reflects the School’s connection to Country and forms part of a broader commitment to embedding First Nations perspectives across the School. The original concept centres on the idea of journey, representing the School community moving forward together, guided by respect, learning and shared experience.
At Ivanhoe Grammar School, Coree Thorpe’s artwork has been thoughtfully integrated across Acknowledgement of Country materials, publications and visual design elements, embedding cultural recognition into everyday school life.
Coree has further extended this work into the sporting arena, guiding the design of the First Nations uniforms for Ivanhoe Grammar School’s Firsts sporting teams for the 2026 Reconciliation Round. He is excited to see these designs come to life on the field, bringing together culture, pride and performance, and creating a strong visual representation of unity across the School’s leading teams.
The artwork represents the ongoing journey that Ivanhoe Grammar School is on, shaped not only by place but by connection, community, and shared experience. Coree’s personal story is grounded strongly in sport, particularly football, which has been a constant thread through his life. Having played nearly 100 matches for Northcote Park in the NFNL and more than 150 for Fitzroy Stars, where he remains involved as both a player and board member, football has been a powerful source of identity, belonging, and continuity. That sense of movement, teamwork, and collective purpose is reflected throughout the piece.
Through these designs, Ivanhoe Grammar School is able to embed cultural acknowledgement into everyday learning environments, helping students and staff engage more meaningfully with First Nations perspectives. The artwork serves not only as a visual feature, but as a reminder of the enduring connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to land, culture and community, encouraging reflection, respect and understanding across the School community.
