In between busily getting ready for work and celebrating her daughter's birthday, Amanda Westley's phone became inundated with messages.
The Ngarrindjeri artist was about to find out that that her artwork had been gifted to Pope Leo XIV.
She hadn't been told that her artwork had been chosen, instead she heard about it from her social media.
"I got some messages from some Instagram followers asking if this was my art on the news," she told NITV.
"I was like, 'No, I don't think it is. I don't know anything about it, I think someone has just generated a photo and is just making its rounds around Instagram'.
"But then, my phone went nuts and just hasn't stopped."
Amanda Westley has been painting for more than 20 years. Source: Supplied
Having not been told in advance, Westley initially thought the images had been created with generative AI.
It wasn't until she was told by a follower about it being discussed on the radio that she began to believe it was real.
"Even when people were still messaging me about it, I'm like 'Don't say it's yours just yet and get excited because it's going to suck when they say, oh, it's a fake, it's AI generated'," the artist, from Victor Harbour in South Australia, said.
"I'm very excited. I'm super proud.
"I think I'm really proud that it's Ngarrindjeri art. All the art that could have been chosen from around Australia, it's Ngarrindjeri art that got gifted.
"It's about Ngarrindjeri Country, so Ngarrindjeri ruwe, and the different colours represent different parts of Ngarrindjeri ruwe for me."
Starting painting more than 20 years ago, Westley has been a professional artist for the past ten years.
"I remember seeing my Aunties painting, old people painting, and I was like, 'I really want to do that' - and I've been painting ever since," she said.
"For me, it's a way to keep culture alive.
"I'm super passionate about paving easier pathways for younger generations, and I feel having my art and a little bit of a platform with art helps me achieve that."
