Bella Kimmel is a contemporary painter with a fluid sense of place, drawing inspiration from her diverse upbringing in New Zealand, Richmond, Virginia, London, England, and most recently, Savannah, Georgia, where she is pursuing a B.F.A. in painting at Savannah College of Art and Design. As an observer, Bella captures the essence of her shifting environment, infusing her paintings with threads of memory that form the foundation of her practice.
Going beyond representation, Bella's artistic vision begins with photography, tapping into personal archives and experiences to initiate her creative process. Her work explores the convergence of reality and memory, evoking introspection and wonder.
Bella proudly exhibited select works from her 'Rock Pool Series' at the November 2021-2022 and 2023 SCAD Open Studio Juried Exhibitions. Her recent developments in figurative work earned her a place in the SCAD annual literary arts journal, Port City Review, in both 2022 and 2023, with further works from this collection being featured. Additionally, Bella has showcased lithographs from her exploration of lithography and select paintings from her 'Everyday' series in the group show 'Things That Have Never Been' at Savannah Gallery's Sulfur Studios.
As Bella approaches her graduation in June 2023, she is preparing to return to her home country of New Zealand. There, she will live and work, dedicating herself to building her portfolio in the land that has significantly contributed to her most substantial body of work to date.
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