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In her debut solo exhibition Harlequin, Alexia Novella presents a series of meticulous still life paintings featuring Harlequin and Pierrot clown dolls from her collection.
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Opening reception: Saturday, Jun 27th, 5 – 8 pm. This is a free event. As Beinart Gallery is a licensed venue, any minors attending the opening reception will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
This exhibition will run from Jun 28th - Jul 19th, 2026 and will coincide with Jesús Aguado's Mad World, Wendy Croxford's Silent Theatre and Adriana Artmeier's Dad Jokes.
Novella is fascinated with the enduring enchantment of the Harlequin and the Pierrot, stock characters of Commedia dell'Arte theatre and puppetry. A compelling contradiction is found in these "sad clowns", whose fanciful costumes and androgynous, theatrical makeup are at odds with their expressions of staid contemplation. Drawn from her own personal doll collection, each of Novella's highly detailed scenes takes its inspiration from the individual personality and costuming of each clown. Rendered in loving and pain-staking detail, Novella has cast them in their own scenes, each informing their own and tone, giving generous attention to every element, lingering over the patterns, textures and surfaces of each form to create an inviting and intimate tableau.
Alexia Novella is hyper-realist oil painter living and working in Melbourne, Australia. Meticulously detailed in her practice, Novella's work is concerned with the expression of memories, places and people, through still life painting. Novella studied Visual Art at Latrobe College of Art and Design, undertook a scholarship in Sydney at the Julian Ashton Art School and has participated in artist workshops in Australia and abroad.