BENITTA
VISUAL ARTIST AND FREELANCE SET DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR
Benitta has been a full-time artist since 2011. While she had always created and sold artworks, it was after losing her home and all her possessions in the devastating Queensland floods of 2011 that she took the leap to pursue her art career full-time, leaving behind years of work in events/ communication roles. Her journey has been marked by resilience, as she had to start over again in 2022 after losing a significant amount of artwork and supplies to another flood. Despite these challenges, her passion for art has only grown stronger.
As a versatile artist, Benitta creates captivating works across multiple mediums, including pastels, oils, and digital vector drawings.
She specialises in creating stunning, lifelike portraits and figurative works in pastels and oils. With a deep appreciation for the human form and a masterful understanding of colour and composition, Benitta has become known for her ability to capture the unique personality and essence of her subjects.
In digital design, Benitta is an accomplished illustrator and designer, bringing her distinctive style to a wide range of projects. From creating mascots and illustrations for schools to designing repeat patterns for textiles, her creativity knows no bounds.
Benitta's diverse skill set also includes freelancing as a set designer and illustrator for stage productions. For over a decade, she has worked with Pen2Stage, a boutique creative production company, designing sets and characters for popular children’s shows such as Jungle Book Jive, Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol, Shimmer and Shine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Activision’s Skylanders. Her work has reached audiences worldwide, including in Singapore, the Philippines, India, China, and Dubai.
Benitta’s work brings joy and creativity to all who encounter it, with each piece carrying her signature style and artistic flair.
EDUCATION
2008 - 2010 Diploma of Graphic Design, Commercial Art Training College
1997 - 1999 Bachelor of Business, majoring in Communication, extended major in Advertising, Queensland University of Technology
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 “From Day to Day”, Cactus Espresso Bar, Ipswich
2013 “Let’s Face it”, The Joynt, South Brisbane
2011 “All of me”, White Canvas Gallery, Fortitude Valley
2008 “…Something to be”, Bella Art Gallery, Springfield Lakes
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
- Salon des Refuse - Brisbane Portrait Prize, Paddington Qld
2019
- The Ipswich Art Awards, curated exhibition, Fire Station 101 - Ipswich Innovation Hub
2018
- The Exquisite Palette Show., Tacit Gallery 123a Gipps St, Collingwood, Victoria
- “Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular” curated exhibition, Central Plaza One, Brisbane
2017
- Cliftons Art Prize, Brisbane
- “Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular” curated exhibition, Central Plaza One, Brisbane
"Off the Wall 0 Arts Connect Annual group exhibition, Ipswich Community Gallery
2016
- "Off the Wall - Arts Connect Annual group exhibition, Ipswich Community Gallery
- ”Art & Design Show”, St Sebastian’s, Yeronga
- “Volcanic colours”, Boonah Regional Art Gallery
- “BWC Regeneration 2016” (curated) Aspire Gallery, Paddington
- “Petite Pieces 2016”, Aspire Gallery, Paddington
- “Handful of Ipswich Artist”, Regional Arts House (Artslink Queensland)
- “People – Places (curated by Ipswich Art Gallery), Ipswich Community Gallery
2015
- "Off the Wall - Arts Connect Annual group exhibition, Ipswich Community Gallery
2014
- ”Yeronga Art Show”, St Sebastian’s, Yeronga
- “Augmenting Aqua”, ArtTime Supplies, Ipswich
2013
- “Stimulate your Senses”, Ipswich Community Gallery, Ipswich
- Artist Hive “Art with Attitude”, Barsoma, Fortitude Valley
2012
- “Stimulate your Senses”, Ipswich Community Gallery, Ipswich
- “Spring Art Exhibition”, St Sebastian’s Primary School, Yeronga
2011
- “Stimulate your Senses”, Ipswich Community Gallery, Ipswich
AWARDS & PRIZES
2024
- 1st Place - Open Category for Traditional Arts - Tivoli Arts Awards
- Highly Commended - Open Category for Traditional Arts - Tivoli Arts Award
2023
- 1st Place - Wacom ANZ Emoji Day Competition
2021
- Finalist Salon Des Refuse - Brisbane Portrait Prize
2019
- Winner, Zonta Silhouette Design Competition (design to be used as a public art sculpture)
2017
- Finalist, Cliftons Art Prize, Brisbane
2013
- Semi Finalist: Doug Moran National Art Prize
GRANTS
2015
- RADF grant for Professional development
ARTIST IN RESIDENCY
2014
- Artist in Residency: St Peters Lutheran College Springfield, Qld
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS
2023
- Artwork selected as one of 11 designs for the Green Walkable Street Art Project in Ipswich, Qld.
2018
- Public art face cut outs for Cobb and Co Heritage Park, for Ipswich City Council
- Public art face cut outs for Lions Club of Rosewood & Marburg Show Society
2017
- Commissioned (Ipswich City Council) to paint backdrop for ArtBeats “Enchanted Forest” festival (1 of 3 Artists)
2016
- Commissioned (Public Art Project) to paint “Hug Me” tree Sarah Drive Park, Yamanto, Qld
- Traffic Signal box artwork, Springfield Qld
2015
- Artist for Artslink Queensland Animating Spaces “Bottle Alley Mural” public art project, Ipswich, Qld
2013
- Commissioned to paint two life-size rhino sculptures for Taronga Zoo’s Wild! Rhino public art project, NSW
- Commissioned to paint a mural for AMW hair & beauty(Toowong)
2010
- Commissioned to paint a mural for City Physio (Brisbane)
2008
- Painted Traffic Signal box in Paddington (Cnr of Castelmaine St, Caxton St & Given Tce, Qld
2004
- Commissioned to paint a mural for Riverview Childcare Centre
COLLECTIONS
- St Peters Lutheran College Springfield
- Private collections in London, Czech Republic, Australia