The Artist

Melissa Bentley

Western Australian artist Melissa Bentley is recognised for her evocative abstract works that blend mixed media, graphic precision, and organic spontaneity. Formally trained in Graphic Design and Advertising, Bentley has spent the past two decades evolving a visual language that explores the connection between imagination, nature, and the surrounding environment.

Working primarily in acrylic and oil, Bentley builds layered compositions of translucent colour, form, and texture. The interplay between structure and freedom—defined through linear marks, gestural brushwork, and occasional typographic elements—reflects both her design background and her fascination with landscape.

Her large-scale abstractions invite viewers to experience a sense of place through colour and movement, evoking the coastal light and rhythms of Western Australia. Based in her South Fremantle studio, Bentley draws daily inspiration from the ocean and the region’s relaxed, sunlit atmosphere.

Bentley was a finalist in the 2014 Black Swan Heritage Prize, and her works are held in state, national, and international private collections.