Gelbell

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Excited to reveal their debut Melbourne exhibition, 'Two Years,' the artist duo Gelbell proudly presents a vibrant collection that reflects their creative evolution over the past two years. This showcase marks a milestone in their journey beyond the studio walls.

 

A landscape of melting marshmallows, fried eggs and characters on camp chairs with faces obscured beneath an array of caps - a simple, nostalgic shield from the elements. Born from exploration outside the traditional studio confines, this exhibition began as rolls of canvas strapped to the roof of the car. Driving along red roads, the work emerged against the backdrop of the Australian Outback,each artwork carrying the enduring imprints of red dirt and stones, with wet paint seizing sediment on its journey.

 

Often, through the lens of self-portraiture, Gelbell's brushstrokes capture the essence of people, objects and motifs from experiences along the dusty tracks.

The borderless rolls of raw canvas in the vast landscape directed the large scale of their works. The expansive surface also provided the perfect playground for layering the duo’s artistic expressions in a harmonious frenzy. Thick acrylic paint dances alongside transparent layers and vibrant colours.

Enlivened by the unpredictable nature of remote creation, Gelbell invites the viewers on a journey that blurs the lines between art and experience, seeking to instil a sense of connection and satirical recognition.

 

Gelbell is the name Angelica Wootton and Bella Greene jointly work under; self-taught artists working simultaneously on the same pieces. Their work is held in private collections across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UK and USA. 

 

We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and sea on which we work and gather and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We wish to acknowledge the Wilyakali people of the Barkindji nation as the Traditional owners of the land we painted on and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the land we exhibit this collection.