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Carol Bennett Art

American, b. 1954

Splitting her time between Hawaii and California, Carol Bennett (b. 1954) has mastered the art of capturing movement in her enigmatic paintings.

While Bennett has garnered praise for the meditative sensibility that characterizes her paintings as well as a bold use of bright colors, some of her works are more famous than others. In fact, her “Women in Water” series is perhaps her most well-known collection. As its name implies, the series features women swimming. They’re captured from an underwater perspective, and their faces are either out of frame entirely or obscured by the sun-dappled surface of the water, which serves as a showcase for Bennett’s portrayal of the qualities of sunlight. The upper half of each painting is flecked with the blues and greens of the ocean as well as whatever color the subject’s bathing suit happens to be.

The series originated with Bennett sketching swimmers at an athletic club’s pool in Los Angeles, but as her process evolved, her husband, Wayne Zebzda, began to film the artist on her daily swim on Kauai. The resultant images inform her work, but she doesn’t consider these works to be depictions of her in particular.

“I swim seven days a week, and while I don’t consider them self-portraits, I am the swimmer in the paintings,” Bennett has said.

Given her constant proximity to the ocean, it’s no surprise that Bennett is inspired by water’s glassy properties, citing its presence as both “a mirror and then a window.” Her radiant paintings, whether she’s working with oil and shellac on paper or wood panels, allow her to explore sunlight in such a rich and provocative way that it’s as if she endeavors to suspend rays of light above the water’s surface, making them seem as tangible and physical as the swimmers themselves.

Aside from her works that hang on the walls of galleries and museums around the world, Bennett has also painted murals and even a 48-foot photovoltaic solar canopy for the Hawaii State Art Museum Sculpture Garden.

Find Carol Bennett’s paintings on 1stDibs.

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Artist: Carol Bennett
Female Figure Underwater Realist Etching --"Separation" by Carol Bennett
By Carol Bennett
Located in Soquel, CA
Female Figure Underwater Realist Etching --"Separation" by Carol Bennett Unique etching of a female figure submersed beneath the surface of water by California and Hawaii artist Ca...
Category

1990s American Impressionist Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Laid Paper, Etching

"Light Catcher" Woman in white bathing suit at play under water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

India Ink, Oil, Acrylic

Malibu Dawn Patrol, Surfer, Water, Painting, Blue, Orange, Male Figure, Waves
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Malibu Dawn Patrol is a figurative artwork featuring a male surfer catching a wave. It is a mixed media painting. Artwork is 31.5 x 31.5. This is part of the latest series by Ha...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Varnish, Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

"MV Spring" abstract figurative oil painting swimmer underwater with orange
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Cardboard

"Diamonds" Abstract oil painting with water sparkling white and orange
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

"Slide Right (Paper)" figurative oil painting of swimmer underwater red swimsuit
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

"Hannah's Back" oil painting of a woman swimming underwater in red suit
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Cardboard, Oil

"See Water (Bottles) oil painting of a woman swimming underwater with red suit
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Cardboard, Oil

"Rachel Shashay" Textured painting of a woman swimming underwater
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. P...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Cardboard, Oil

"Orange You Drifting" oil painting of a woman floating in a turquoise pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

Dripping in Diamonds, Swimmer, Water, Work on board, Pastel, Shimmering, Light
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Dripping in Diamonds is a water and figurative artwork featuring swimmers in the water. It is a Pastel on archival board. It is the first time in 30 years Bennett has created artwo...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Board, Pastel

Light Catcher, Swimmer, Water, Work on board, Pastel, Blue, Female Figure
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Light Catcher is a figurative artwork featuring a female swimmer through the water. It is a Pastel on archival board. It is the first time in 30 years Bennett has created artwork with pastels. The Artwork is 32" x 40". It is framed to 40" x 48" with a white frame. This is new 2023 work by Hawaii artist, Carol Bennett. Carol Bennett spends all of her time surrounded by water, and a great deal within it. Her work is a meditative journey through both the water and through life. She is intrigued by how life continues to flow and change, being both in the moment and timeless. The viewer will experience being in a state “flow” – where the currents of the ocean suspend life and self, and the unexpected floats to the surface. Carol's work has been featured in many solo and group exhibits throughout California, New York, Martha's Vineyard and Hawaii including a 2007 solo show at the First Hawaiian Center at the Contemporary Museum of Art (Honolulu) and a 2018 group show "Making Waves" exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Her work was seen alongside April Gornik, Agnes Martin, Kiki Smith, and Pat Steir. In 2019, she was also featured in exhibits at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the Hawaii State Art Museum and a solo exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art. She also just completed a 40 piece glass panel commission at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. She has been featured in Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Ocean Home...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Pastel, Board

Lift, Swimmer, Water, Work on board, Pastel, Blue, Female Figure
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Lift is a figurative artwork featuring a female swimmer through the water. It is a Pastel on archival board. It is the first time in 30 years Bennett has created artwork with pastels. The Artwork is 16" x 20.5". It is framed to 20" x 24.5" with a white frame. Carol Bennett spends all of her time surrounded by water, and a great deal within it. Her work is a meditative journey through both the water and through life. She is intrigued by how life continues to flow and change, being both in the moment and timeless. The viewer will experience being in a state “flow” – where the currents of the ocean suspend life and self, and the unexpected floats to the surface. Carol's work has been featured in many solo and group exhibits throughout California, New York, Martha's Vineyard and Hawaii including a 2007 solo show at the First Hawaiian Center at the Contemporary Museum of Art (Honolulu) and a 2018 group show "Making Waves" exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Her work was seen alongside April Gornik, Agnes Martin, Kiki Smith, and Pat Steir. In 2019, she was also featured in exhibits at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the Hawaii State Art Museum and a solo exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art. She also just completed a 40 piece glass panel commission at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. She has been featured in Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Ocean Home...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Pastel, Board

"Summer Traveler" oil painting of a woman in red bikini in turquoise water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Suzie Q (Paper)" mixed media painting of feet floating in water with reflection
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Archival Paper

"Yellow There (Paper)" mixed media painting of a woman in gold suit in blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Mixed Media

"Gesture (Paper)" mixed media painting of a figure in orange suit in teal water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Abstract Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Mixed Media

Flat, painting inspired by Hawaii Fish, Red, black, Green, Oil, Ink on panel
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Flat is Ink and Oil and Varnish on Wood Panel inspired by the Hawaii Flatfish. It is 20x20 filled with red, orange, black and green. Carol Bennett spends all of her time surrounded...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Ink, Oil, Wood Panel

Hannah's Window, Swimmer, Water, Work on Paper, Red Swimsuit, Female Figure
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Hannah's Window is a figurative artwork featuring a female swimmer in a red bathing suit moving through the water. It is a mixed media painting on painted wood grained paper. Artwork is 26 x 20. It is framed to 32 x 26 with a white frame. This is part of the latest series by Hawaii artist, Carol Bennett. Carol Bennett spends all of her time surrounded by water, and a great deal within it. Her work is a meditative journey through both the water and through life. She is intrigued by how life continues to flow and change, being both in the moment and timeless. The viewer will experience being in a state “flow” – where the currents of the ocean suspend life and self, and the unexpected floats to the surface. Carol's work has been featured in many solo and group exhibits throughout California, New York, Martha's Vineyard and Hawaii including a 2007 solo show at the First Hawaiian Center at the Contemporary Museum of Art (Honolulu) and a 2018 group show "Making Waves" exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Her work was seen alongside April Gornik, Agnes Martin, Kiki Smith, and Pat Steir. In 2019, she was also featured in exhibits at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the Hawaii State Art Museum and a solo exhibit at the Honolulu Museum of Art. She has been featured in Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Ocean Home Magazine and the New York Times. Carol's artwork has also been featured in Designer Showhouses in Westchester NY and the Hamptons, and is part of public and private collections around the world. Elisa Contemporary Art...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Varnish, Oil, Acrylic, Archival Paper

"Rachael in Red and Aquamarine" Woman in Red swimsuit in crystalline blue water.
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Kissing the Ground" abstract oil painting of woman in red suit under blue water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

"Rachael in Red" oil painting on panel of a woman in red suit in turquoise pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

"Women Holding Up Women/Green Flash" mixed media painting, surfer, orange, blue
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Paper

"Blue Board" Ink and Oil Woman on a surfboard held up by another woman.
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media

"Women Holding Up Women/Indian Summer" mixed media painting of surfer, orange
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Paper

"Women Holding Up Women/Baby Blue" Blue and gold mixed media painting of surfer
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Paper

"Still Water" Bright red and blue scene of swimmer on water surface on panel.
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Fish Study, painting, Reverse painting on glass gold leaf, oil, cobalt, water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fish Study by Hawaii artist Carol Bennett is a reverse painting on glass artwork. It is Oil, Varnish, Gold Leaf and powdered Cobalt. It is 9x12. Carol Bennett's artwork is a meditative journey through both the water and through life. She is one of the few artists to truly capture what it's like to be in and moving and swimming through the water. For Carol, the act of swimming underwater is similar to the process of painting. Her approach results in multi-layered surfaces that are intricate and textured and unexpected. She is constantly experimenting with her pieces: adding, subtracting, sanding. When she is not painting Swimmers, she is capturing the fish surrounding her. She has created over 100 large public and corporate commissions internationally, and is in private collections around the world. Carol Bennett was recently currently featured in two exhibits at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Networking and Water: Carol Bennett featuring female swimmers, as well as marine nets floating or submerged in water. Bennett was also part of the group exhibit Making Waves highlighting the important role of women artists in the museum’s contemporary collection. In this show, the works by international and Hawaii-based artists all have a relationship to water. Featured artists also included: April Gornik, Agnes Martin, Judy Pfaff, Kiki Smith and Pat Steir! Elisa Contemporary Art...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"See Water (Paper)" oil painting of a woman in a red swimsuit in a blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

"Bad Ass Rose (paper)" Acrylic painting on paper of a white rose with red dots
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Mixed Media, Acrylic

Waterfall Duet 1, Water, Gold, White, Flowing, Acrylic, Oil, Painting, unframed
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Waterfall Duet 1 is an original waterfall painting by Hawaii artist Carol Bennett. It is reminiscent of the beautiful flowing waterfalls throughout the Hawaiian islands. It is Acry...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Varnish, Oil, Acrylic, Board

"Rose Cartemus" oil painting of a woman in a red swimsuit in a blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Presently I'm working on wood, I'm intrigued by wood grain swirling like water and how that ground moves through the swimmer's form”. Carol graduated from the Art Center College of Design in painting. For some 20 years she split her time between her loft in downtown LA and a beach bungalow in Hawaii- satisfying a passion for culture and the ocean's pull. In LA she painted backdrops...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

Waterfall Duet 2, Water, Gold, White, Flowing, Acrylic, Oil, Painting, unframed
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Waterfall Duet 2 is an original waterfall painting by Hawaii artist Carol Bennett. It is reminiscent of the beautiful flowing waterfalls throughout the Hawaiian islands. It is Acry...
Category

2010s Contemporary Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Varnish, Oil, Acrylic, Board

"Little Big Fall 3 (paper)" Abstract painting of waterfall with dark background
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

"Flow (paper)" Abstract painting of a woman in a blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
Abstract oil painting of a woman in a blue pool. "I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has follow...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Acrylic, Paper, Oil

"Summer Sojourn 1" Woman in Orange Bikini Swimming with Reflections on Water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"Summer Sojourn 1" Woman in Orange Bikini Swimming with Reflections on Water “I have an open and free-wheeling approach to technique and material...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Lotus Action Figure" Abstract oil painting of woman in lotus pose in blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
Abstract oil painting of a woman in lotus pose in a blue pool. “I have an open and free-wheeling approach to technique and materials: hypothesis, experiment and conclusion…I am intr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

Heleconia
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Glass, Mixed Media

Trigger
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Glass, Mixed Media

"Flame Angel" Abstract mixed media reverse triptych painting behind glass
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Presently I'm working on wood, I'm intrigued by wood grain swirling like water and how that ground moves through the swimmer's form”. Carol graduated from the Art Center College of Design in painting. For some 20 years she split her time between her loft in downtown LA and a beach bungalow in Hawaii- satisfying a passion for culture and the ocean's pull. In LA she painted backdrops...
Category

2010s Abstract Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

"Listening (Paper)" Figurative abstract oil painting of people in the ocean
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. P...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Handmade Paper

"Tickled Pink" oil painting of the feet of a woman floating in ocean
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Wood Panel, Oil

"Havenhurst (paper)" Abstract painting of a woman in a red swimsuit in blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
Abstract oil painting of a woman in a red swimsuit in a blue pool. "I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The Swimmer s...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

"Free (Blonde)" Oil painting of a woman in white swimsuit in a blue pool
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
Oil painting of a woman in white swimsuit in a blue pool. "I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind ...
Category

2010s Carol Bennett Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Carol Bennett art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Carol Bennett art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, green and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Carol Bennett in paint, oil paint, paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Carol Bennett art, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Michele Mikesell, June Glasson, and Frank Shifreen. Carol Bennett art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $24,850, while the average work can sell for $3,750.

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