Latin American artist Bella Lunel (b. 2002. Miami, Florida) submerges her work within themes of mysticism, marine conservation, gothic mythology, and social systems. Primarily an oil painter, she is known for her intense surreal narratives on canvas. Lunel's stylized figurations reflect anthropological observations and mythological reflections. Her artwork is a combination of independent academic research and an abstract affinity towards maritime gothic visuals. With a strikingly cool palette, her technique combines glazing and sgraffito to build and break down layers of oil.

 

Lunel's art practice is focused on parallel themes of divinity and mortality found within cetaceans, or specifically baleen and toothed whales. Her series titled "Revere The Pod" forces a confrontation upon the viewer. Can you meet the gaze of a whale? Can you come to terms with humanity's direct involvement with their impending extinction? Each work features a 1:1 scale depiction of the eyes of different whale species. All of the artwork is accompanied by a thorough research practice merging academic texts, cinematic composition, and historical lived experiences to create a connection that is both sacred and unsettling.