Chuckie Finster

Oliver Fontany, Chuckie Finster, 2020, Synthetic Polymer on Hessian, 163 x 86cm

Oliver Fontany paints Chuckie Finster from Rugrats, one of his favourite shows and a character he calls a hero. The figure bursts with bold lines, saturated colour, and playful pattern, capturing both the innocence and the energy of the cartoon.

He chose to paint on hessian for its coarse, tactile quality, giving the image a raw presence. In tandem, he wanted fellow Little Umbrella artist Luke Abdallah, who is blind, to experience the work through touch, adding a collaborative dimension to the piece. The combination of subject and surface transforms a personal obsession into a striking tribute, turning a beloved cartoon character into an icon of Oliver’s practice.

Chuckie Finstar was a finalist in Campbelltown Art Gallery’s Fischers Ghost Art Award