Gala Bent

Encaustic, insect wings, graphite and oil paint

Since childhood, I have been in the practice of picking up small objects on outdoor walks – seedpods, rocks, dead bugs and sticks – and bringing them back into my home, and studying them lovingly. The forms that exist outside of man’s manipulation feed me in ways that nothing else does. I can stare into trees and under-brush where many variations of humble green plants are displayed, and feel as if I am taking a long, cool drink. Time away from humans and human-made objects is crucial for me in order to keep a balance of perception. In natural surroundings, I gain an awareness of being only a part of an extremely complex web of life, and yet I am also awed at the Creator’s intimate care. This helps me realign the importance of things that my myopic loop of responsibilities has assigned, and to remember the character of the Eternal. Unsurprisingly, as a visual artist, I find myself drawing and painting forms that reflect this interest. Many of my paintings are meditations on the language that is this “Book of Nature” that God has given us in addition to the written word.

Gala Bent enjoys painting, bookmaking, drawing and writing. She received her BFA in painting from Ball State University and her MFA from SUNY Buffalo in photography/mixed media.