An extremely accomplished photorealist painter, Michelle Bellamy comes from a family of artists. She grew up in Nelson and after living in Taupo for two years, she has now returned to her hometown.
The purity and brightness of her palette captures and intensifies the clarity of New Zealand’s light, holding her subject matter up in stunning colour and detail. Often drawn to the water’s edge, through precision brushwork and careful layering, acrylic paint serves to render extraordinary the iconic and much loved baches and boathouses of our recent past. In her new work these are sometimes juxtaposed with the contemporary Auckland skyline, an added dimension which both records our history and channels a certain nostalgia for golden days gone by.
A full time painter of over a decade, Bellamy is firmly established as a highly regarded and sought after New Zealand artist. While being an artist is her central passion, Bellamy has also represented New Zealand in Mountain Biking. Her dedication and commitment to compete at a high level is also reflected in the perfection she seeks as an artist.
Bellamy paints with acrylics on board, with the occasional work on canvas. Her works are held in private collections worldwide and she has recently completed a large commission, 3.1m x 2.4m for Sir Robert Jones for the foyer of the Forsyth Barr building in Auckland.
Note from the artist:
“A contemporary style, yet an old subject matter. The majority of the painting subjects I choose are under dispute of whether or not to leave them be, or to terminate them.
Therefore, throughout my paintings I am always looking to record a small part of New Zealand history, that in the relatively near future may no longer exist.”
