Philippa Bentley

Clever?

Philippa Bentley

Artist - Auckland

"Wetas, bees and huhu bugs never looked so good!"

Sparked by a fascination with insects that’s lasted from times playing in the patch of bush at the bottom of her childhood garden, Philippa Bentley has created some of the most wonderful and distinctive artworks we’ve seen in a long time.  “I love insects - they fascinate me.  With their vast range of colours, shapes, beautiful patterns and quirky, amazing life cycles, they present so much scope for an artist.”
With added inspiration from visits to the Auckland Museum, Philippa makes prints and assemblages combining insect images with some of New Zealand’s best-loved heritage brands:  “Each insect is individually screen-printed, hand coloured on upcycled weatherboard or paper, and then framed as if archived in a museum boxed collection.  The use of old timber started as a play on the old, Kiwi trend from the 1950’s of a butterfly on a weatherboard house, and is an integral part of the work.”
To add to the museum feel, each individual artwork is authenticated with details of name and date, and sometimes hand written notes describing a personal reference associated with the image.  “I'm happy if people simply enjoy them visually, but there are layer on layer of associations, references and meanings in each work when they are complete.  One person called them ‘memory boxes' and they are all about memory and identity.”
  Auckland


Buy

 > Artist's Full Collection 
  • Bee Art Print
  • Weta Art Print
  • Red Admiral Butterfly Art Print
  • Painted Lady Butterfly Art Print
  • Stag Beetle Art on Weatherboard Unframed
  • Stag Beetle Art Print
  • Taniwha Dragonfly Art Print
  • Don't let the Bastards grind you down Art Print
  • Assorted Collection
  • Ladybirds on Weatherboard Unframed