Petra Meikle de Vlas

Petra Meikle de Vlas operates from a coastal studio situated 15 nautical miles from the Great Barrier Reef. Her practice is a direct dialogue with the surrounding waters, where she rejects conventional methods in favor of experimental techniques that mimic the natural world. By layering materials on large-format boards, she "sculpts" her paintings to capture the intricate formations of the reef and the movement of the ocean. The artist utilizes an array of tools—including air guns, blowtorches, and gravity—to simulate environmental forces. In her process, liquid paint represents water, while the heat of a torch acts as the sun and the tilt of the board mirrors the tide. This focus on the chemistry between pigments results in dynamic compositions where materials attract and repel, building deep, multi-layered textures.