The Bermuda National Gallery has acquired a sculpture from Graham Foster to go on permanent exhibition.

The three piece steel sculpture, "21th Century Fetish Family," was a major feature in this year's Bacardi Limited Biennial Exhibition and is the first contemporary Bermudian work from the exhibition to be chosen for the permanent collection.

Acquiring a contemporary piece of art from a leading Bermudian artist was "an idea whose time had come," said Gallery director Laura Gorham.

"Several board members felt that we should start identifying significant contemporary artists in Bermuda whose work we should add to the Gallery's permanent collection, which is a vitally important record of the development of the visual arts in Bermuda.

"And we thought, who better to start with than our own Bacardi Biennial Exhibition where we have international jurors who can make professional, unbiased recommendations?"

She said the sculpture was a "striking modern impression of African and Oceanic tribal art" that would complement the Gallery's African collection.

Mr. Foster, 32, a graduate of Bermuda College and the Museum School of Fine Art in Boston, said: "When I first heard the National Gallery was considering purchasing the Fetish Family I was bowled over.

"As a Bermudian and being strongly influenced by this Island in much of my work, it makes me proud to think that future generations of Bermudians will be able to see my work long after I have keeled over."

The purchase was made possible through donations from the Christian Humann Foundation and Gallery trustees Colin (Dusty) Hind and his wife Barbara O"Shaughessy.