Anita West

Michael Reid Murrurundi is pleased to introduce the work of Anita West, who makes her Murrurundi debut when presenting at our inaugural collaborative exhibition with RM Williams.

Anita West in a Meanjin/Brisbane-based visual artist whose enchanting, enveloping scenes of tangled forests convey the romance of the untamed Australian bush, it’s serendipitous patterns and the allure of this continents diverse landscapes.

“I want my paintings to be soulful and contemplative. I want to take you on an evocative journey through the Australian bush, to experience the unparalleled beauty of nature”, says West, whose early career saw her experimenting with a variety of different styles. From naïve art to abstraction to miniature art, her well-rounded artistic trajectory final culminated in a focus on hyper-stylised Australian bush and beach depictions.

“I am interested in the idea of romantic notions attached to the Australian bush and I am attempting to explore these elements using boundaries between abstraction and realism, emotion, and perception through my engagement with this beautiful land”, explains the artist.

Predominantly location based, her practice is concerned with the recording and interpretation of natural habitat that has been preserved or protected in line with conservation objectives. Her vibrant floral compositions are animated with bold pinks and radiant purples, imbuing her paintings with an ethereal and dreamlike quality. The result is a body of work that feels at once rooted in place and touched by imagination – offering viewers an experience that is as reflective as it is transportive.

Paintings by Anita West are available to preview at our Sydney Gallery and appointments may be scheduled by request. For more information, please email danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au