Bec Bartell
Western Australia
“I explore the stark contrast between the elements of dark and light and capture the beauty in both. The variation of the soft delicate bird feathers against hard ceramic, the melody of colour in the native flora constrained by the bold artificial blues of the vessels that contain them, highlight the harmony of the natural beauty suppressed in the modern world.“
Born and raised in Western Australia, Bec Bartell developed a deep appreciation for animals and nature from an early age. She practiced quilting and textile craft for many years before transitioning to painting, drawn by a fascination with the dramatic use of light in Baroque and Dutch Golden Age works. Largely self-taught, she honed her skills through books, online resources, and persistent experimentation. Today, her meticulously executed still life paintings are distinguished by their striking sense of drama and refined technique.
Bec began gaining recognition in 2016, and her work is now represented in galleries across both coasts of Australia as well as in Singapore, with pieces held in private collections worldwide. She was the winner in the inaugural The Next Big Thing national prize by the Toowoomba Gallery, as well as a finalist in the Bluethumb Art Prize in both 2021 and 2022. Over the years, she has also been shortlisted for numerous local art awards across Western Australia.