Artist’s Statement

Current Exhibition at Grainger Gallery
October 2023

“Within my latest series of works, the theme of adornment takes centre stage as I explore ideas
around embellishing the figure to ignite the creative journey for each piece. ‘Adorned’ not only
seeks to touch upon the rich tapestry of human expression through ornamentation but also delves
into adornment as the catalyst itself, enabling me to evoke moods, stir emotions, and suggest
narratives that let the mind wander.”

Bio:
Narelle Zeller (b. 1978), based in Canberra, Australia, is an accomplished representational artist
renowned for her meticulous depictions of figures and still life subjects. With her practice dedicated
to realism, Narelle works exclusively with oil paint and focuses on portraiture, the human form, and
the beauty of the natural world.
At the core of Narelle’s artistic philosophy lies a commitment to capturing the essence of her
subjects in a sincere and unfiltered manner. Her multi-layered artistic process is deliberate and
unhurried, enabling her to immerse herself fully in every aspect of her subjects. Through her work,
she extends an invitation to viewers to share in this intimate contemplation, encouraging them to
closely examine every nuance and appreciate the subject as she does with every stroke of her
brush.

Narelle has achieved recognition as both an award-winning artist and a finalist in numerous
prestigious national and international competitions. Her art resides in prominent collections and
has been showcased in exhibitions spanning both national and international arenas.
Among her recent achievements, a few noteworthy accolades are:

First Place Still Life Category, ARC Purchase Award & Honourable Mention in Portraiture - 16th &
15th International ARC Salon Competitions - 2023 & 2022
Finalist - The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Raymar Traditional Art Award - 2023 & 2022
Finalist - Figurativas 2023, MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain - 2023
Finalist - ModPortrait, MEAM Museum, Barcelona, Spain - 2023, 2022 & 2021
Finalist - The Darling Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery of Australia - 2022 & 2020
Highly Commended Award - The Lester Prize for Portraiture, Art Gallery of WA - 2022
Honourable Mention - International Biennial Portrait Competition (IBPC), Wausau Museum of
Contemporary Art, USA - 2021Narelle Zeller is a Canberra representational artist, best known for her highly detailed portraiture paintings. With her practice dedicated to realism, Narelle works exclusively with oil paint and focuses on portraiture, the figure, and nature. Her refined oil paintings explore the beauty of the human condition and our connection to the natural environment as well as contemporary stories of time and place. Narelle aims to convey an authentic and honest representation of every subject she paints, her process allowing her to slow down and take the time to appreciate every element - inviting the viewer to look closely with her.