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.
"Lighten Up" a woman in white bathing suit, arms outstretched, drifting
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...
Canvas, Oil
$3,200
"Winter White" reflective painting of woman in white bathing suit 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. Pr...
Canvas, Oil
"Amy" side profile of a woman with white bathing suit floating up for air
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...
Canvas, Oil
$6,595
H 63 in W 39.38 in D 1.97 in
The sorcerer's apprentice -Timothy Archer, 21st Century painting, Figurative art
By Timothy Archer
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint and pastel on canvas Signed and dated by the artist
Canvas, Oil
$9,473
H 68.12 in W 48.43 in D 1.97 in
Strawberries Stéphane Fauchille Contemporary art colour painting landscape
By Stéphane Fauchille
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist Stéphane Fauchille, dream anthropologist “Would you, for a moment, like to become the Claude Lévi-Strauss of the aborigin...
Canvas, Oil
$5,876
H 29.53 in W 24.02 in
Resistance Stéphane Fauchille Contemporary art portrait painting flower nature
By Stéphane Fauchille
Located in Paris, FR
Oil painting on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist
Canvas, Oil
$7,075
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 1.97 in
What is above is like what is below Timothy Archer 21st Century painting
By Timothy Archer
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint on canvas Signed lower right
Canvas, Oil
$6,235
H 35.04 in W 24.81 in
Virtual reality Stéphane Fauchille Contemporary art portrait painting Adam Eve
By Stéphane Fauchille
Located in Paris, FR
Oil painting on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist
Canvas, Oil
$13,790
H 66.93 in W 86.62 in D 1.97 in
Misunderstanding in the tall grass Timothy Archer 21st Cent. Contemporary paint
By Timothy Archer
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint and pastel on canvas Hand-signed and dated lower right by the artist
Oil Pastel, Oil, Canvas
$7,075
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 1.97 in
Metamorphosed Narcissus Timothy Archer 21st Century Contemporary painting myth
By Timothy Archer
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint on canvas Signed lower right
Canvas, Oil
$11,392
H 78.75 in W 51.19 in D 1.97 in
Peas Stéphane Fauchille Contemporary art painting colour humour music tiger
By Stéphane Fauchille
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist Stéphane Fauchille, dream anthropologist “Would you, for a moment, like to become the Claude Lévi-Strauss of the aborigin...
Canvas, Oil
$7,794
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in D 1.97 in
Chronos and the blade of destiny Timothy Archer Contemporary art painting myth
By Timothy Archer
Located in Paris, FR
Oil painting and oil pastel on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist
Canvas, Oil Pastel, Oil
$4,197
H 7.88 in W 15.75 in D 1.97 in
The dancer Moreno Pincas Contemporary art painting portrait people figurative
By Moreno Pincas
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist
Canvas, Oil
$11,392
H 78.75 in W 51.19 in D 1.97 in
Mickey the sheepkeeper Stéphane Fauchille Contemporary art landscape painting
By Stéphane Fauchille
Located in Paris, FR
Oil paint on canvas Unique work Hand-signed lower right by the artist Stéphane Fauchille, dream anthropologist “Would you, for a moment, like to become the Claude Lévi-Strauss of ...
Canvas, Oil
$8,993
H 77.96 in W 45.28 in
Connection Stéphane Fauchille Contemporary art painting landscape animal edf
By Stéphane Fauchille
Located in Paris, FR
Oil painting on canvas Unique work Hand-signed by the artist
Canvas, Oil