Luke Roberts, Poinsettia Riverfire

Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection. Location: Emma Miller Place, Brisbane, Queensland.

Blue Sky View was engaged by Brisbane City Council to lead the complex refurbishment of Poinsettia Riverfire (2016) by celebrated Queensland artist Luke Roberts. Located in Emma Miller Place, the light-based sculptural work forms a stylised poinsettia bloom animated through choreographed LED sequences and holds a prominent position within Brisbane’s civic landscape.

Over an 18-month period, BSV oversaw all aspects of the project’s conservation and technical renewal, coordinating a multidisciplinary team of lighting designers, fabricators, blasting and coating specialists, and electrical contractors. The sloping site posed significant logistical challenges for the safe removal and reinstallation of the sculpture. The project involved the full disassembly of components, blasting and powder coating of the sculptural frame, the redesign and rebuild of the LED lighting system, and the installation of over 600 metres of cable.

Working closely with lighting specialists Digilin, electrical firm Steve Taylor & Co Electrix, and Brisbane Blasting Services, Blue Sky View provided strategic project management and conservation oversight to ensure the artist’s vision was preserved while future-proofing the work’s operational performance. The final result restores Poinsettia Riverfire as a striking nocturnal landmark, and is a testament to the value of long-term public art maintenance.

Delivered as part of Brisbane City Council’s Public Art Maintenance Program.

Photographs courtesy Dave Kan Photography for Brisbane City Council