Remnant 428 (original, 18 x 24)

#3230-009

Remnant 428
by Matty Rocket, 2025
Original, signed artwork
18 x 24
Acrylic on hand-stretched, gallery-wrapped canvas with a 1.5" depth

This painting is part of a Tiki Portrait Series, in which each work presents a tightly cropped view of a Polynesian pop icon inspired by the history of tiki culture. The use of strong linear elements and a flowing composition give each piece a distinctly modern, abstract feel.

It is based on an early carving by the one and only Leroy Schmaltz of Oceanic Arts. I actually acquired the piece at auction, and when it arrived I couldn’t resist unboxing it right away and taking a few photos. The sun was setting at the time, casting this incredible, dramatic light across the carving—and that moment turned out to be the spark that got me painting again after two decades working as a creative director and graphic artist.

The vivid photo I captured became the catalyst for the work, capturing something I didn’t want to let go of. The piece is titled “Remnant 428,” a nod both to the early days of tiki culture and to the catalog number assigned by Oceanic Arts to this highly collectible carving, which can now be found in tiki temples and home tiki bars around the world. This same carving also directly influenced design elements at Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Along the edges of the canvas, a hand-painted Polynesian-inspired pattern wraps around the piece, adding an extra layer of detail and tying it back to its cultural roots.

Please note that photos may not accurately reflect the scale of the work. The painting measures 18 x 24 x 1.5 inches.