Impressive as that is, what’s more amazing about Bieniek’s work is its size. Her winning Wynne prize painting ‘Biophilia’ was only 9cm square and her portrait of Wendy Whiteley, which was highly commended by the trustees in the 2016 Archibald prize, is only  13.5cm x 18.5cm.

She is without doubt a master of the miniature.

Bieniek has exhibited in six solo shows, across Australia and overseas, and in many group shows. The National Portrait Gallery held an exhibition in 2014, ‘In the Flesh’, where 14 of her miniature portraits were included, borrowed from private collections.

In our conversation, Bieniek reveals how it was not all smooth sailing at the beginning and talks about how nature in the urban environment has inspired her work. She also provides details about her process which reveal the intensive labour involved in creating her exquisite paintings.

To hear Maria Stoljar’s conversation with Natasha Bieniek press ‘play’ above and scroll down to see the works they talk about on the podcast

Video of Natasha Bieniek in her studio can be seen on YouTube here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y17eJu-IKEk

‘Wendy Whiteley’, 2016, oil on wood, 13.5 x 18.5cm, finalist Archibald prize 2016

Detail of ‘Wendy Whiteley’

‘Biophilia’, 2015, oil on dibond, 9 x 9cm, winner of Wynne prize 2015

‘Sahara’ 2014, oil on wood, 13.5 x 18.5cm, winner of Portia Geach Memorial Award 2015

‘Jennifer (St Columba Falls, Pyengana)’, 2017, oil on dibond, 9 x 14cm

‘Eleanor’, 2015, oil on dibond, 9 x 9cm

‘Gardenia’, 2014, oil on wood, 6 x 8cm

‘Kumiko’ 2016, oil on dibond, 9 x 14cm