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
"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
$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
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Wrestler Standing](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-wrestler-standing-for-sale/a_9323/a_180573421778706755230/Beard_Bruce_Sargeant_1898_1938_Wrestler_Standing_framed_master.jpg?width=240)
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Wrestler Standing](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-paintings-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-wrestler-standing-for-sale-picture-2/a_9323/a_180573421778706799093/Beard_Bruce_Sargeant_1898_1938_Wrestler_Standing_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Wrestler Standing
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Mark Beard [Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Wrestler Standing, n.d. Signed, u.r. Oil on canvas 30 x 24 inches (76.2 x 61 cm) $5,000 + $350 framing
Canvas, Oil
$1,500
H 16 in W 12 in
TJ, Portrait of a Male Boxer with Two Black Eyes, Blue and Beige Background
By Peter Lupkin
Located in Chicago, IL
Exploring the tension between the individual and their social archetype, Lupkin chooses his subjects from his local gym where they study boxing. In this intimate portrait, TJ is painted with soft loose brush strokes which contrast with his two black eyes. The painting is framed with a simple black floater frame measuring 17h x 13w inches. Peter Lupkin TJ oil on canvas 16h x 12w in 40.64h x 30.48w cm PLU011 The artwork I create is a visual statement of my moral philosophy. The language I use to convey this philosophy in my pieces is one of traditional symbolism, this being indoctrinated into my personality through an apprenticeship into a traditional stained glass...
Canvas, Oil
$3,021
H 19.69 in W 15.75 in D 0.4 in
Self Portrait Oil Painting on Canvas, Contemporary, Signed, 2010+
By Marco Fariello
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas. Hans signed. Self portrait of the Artist. Excellent condition.
Oil, Canvas
$4,200
H 36 in W 24 in
Portrait of William, April, 2020, Seated Male Wearing Gray Hoodie, Original Oil
By Peter Lupkin
Located in Chicago, IL
Waiting - it is what we all have been doing during this tumultuous year. Artist Peter Lupkin is no different. In his work entitled "Portrait of William, April, 2020" a family membe...
Canvas, Oil
$1,650
H 25.5 in W 19.375 in
"Nina Ponema Puno (Young Girl from Puno), " Oil on Canvas signed by A. Velazquez
By Abelardo Marquez Velazquez
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Nina Ponema - Puno (Young Girl from Puno)" is an original oil painting on canvas by Abelardo Marquez. The artist signed the piece in the lower right. This painting depicts a young g...
Canvas, Oil
$3,951
H 25.6 in W 17.72 in D 0.6 in
Sogni d'Oro Oil Painting on Canvas, Signed Contemporary Art, 2023
By Marco Fariello
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas. Hand signed. Excellent condition.
Oil, Canvas
$3,719
H 19.69 in W 15.75 in D 0.04 in
Contemporary Pasqualina Oil Painting on Canvas, Unframed, 21st Century
By Marco Fariello
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas realized by Marco Fariello in 2023, depicting a dominican woman. Excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity by the Artist.
Oil, Canvas
$2,800
H 20 in W 16 in
Hamburger Hat, Portrait of a Guy Wearing a Purple Shirt and Yellow Hat, framed
By Peter Lupkin
Located in Chicago, IL
Classical Portraiture takes on a very casual feel in Peter Lupkin's painting entitled "Hamburger Hat". The composition is in the formal portraiture style with the subject gazing out...
Canvas, Oil
$17,100
H 53.5 in W 42.5 in
Contemporary figurative textured oil painting indigenous feather colorful signed
By Ernesto Gutierrez (b.1941)
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Kicking Bear, Dakota" is an original oil painting on canvas by Ernesto Gutierrez. The artist signed the piece in the lower right. It depicts the Lakota band chief Kicking Bear. Pa...
Canvas, Oil
$5,800
H 40 in W 30 in
Solitary La Boheme, Single Male Figure Seated at a Bar, Smoking, Drinking Hamms
By Peter Lupkin
Located in Chicago, IL
Artists are often isolated, but long for an idealized golden era, “La Boheme”. Frequently an artist's closest encounter with “La Boheme” is nothing more than drinking at a bar...
Canvas, Oil
$4,500
H 11 in W 14 in
Portrait of Deontay Wilder - Original Oil Painting Portrait of Champion Fighter
By Caleb O'Connor
Located in Chicago, IL
Caleb O’Connor b. 1979 Honolulu, HI EXHIBITIONS 2018 BloodSport, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago 2017 Grand Opening: Coming Attractions, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chciago 2010 Contemporary Realism Biennial, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN 2008 “Art Chicago,” Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL “Palm Beach 3 Art Fair,” Ann Nathan Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL 2007 “SOFA (Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art)” Park Ave. Armory, Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, NY “Art Chicago,” Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL “Palm Beach 3 Art Fair,” Ann Nathan Gallery, West Palm Beach, FL 2006 “Art Chicago,” Merchandise Mart, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2005 “Caleb O’Connor: Dreams to Reality,” Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL “Art Chicago in the Park,” Butler Field, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2004 “Introducing Caleb O’Connor,” Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL “Art Maui,” Annual Juried Exhibition, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui, HI 2003 “Rustica,” The Palazzo Bonini, Fivizzano, Italy “Group Show,” Fondatzione ARKAD, Seravezza, Italy “Facing the Real,” the Artists House, Museum of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel “20/30 Vision,” Hui Noi Au, Makawao, HI 2002 “Summer Show,” Gallery K, Washington DC 2001 “Serving Youth,” Gallery K, Washington DC (solo) “New Works,” Caleb O’Connor, School 33, Baltimore, MD (solo) “Small Works,” Gallery K, Washington DC Juried Exhibition, Gomez Gallery, Baltimore, MD Juried Exhibition, MICA Fox Gallery, Baltimore, MD 2000 “The Nine from MICA,” Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Art Gallery, Baltimore, MD GRANTS AND AWARDS 2003 Fulbright Grant to Italy, Project: Painting and Sculpture Elizabeth Greenshields Award, Quebec, Canada 2001 Elizabeth Greenshields Award, Quebec, Canada 2000 Morris Louis 32 Scholarship, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD 1999 Painting Department Award, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD 1996 Presidential Scholarship, Washington DC PUBLICATIONS 2002 Linda M. Grossman, “Meet an Emerging Artist, Caleb O’Connor,” American Artist Magazine “20/30 Show,” Maui News, Arts and Entertainments, October, Maui, HI 2001 Jessica Dawson, “The Beast Within,” The Washington Post, January 11, Washington DC Steve Purchase, “School 33 Opening a Great Show,” The Baltimore Guide Enterprise, MD “A Star is Born,” The City Paper, Baltimore, MD “Best Exhibition of the Year,” The City Paper, Baltimore, MD EDUCATION 2003 Studied under Israel Hershberg...
Canvas, Oil
$5,000
H 16 in W 15.75 in
The Raven - Girl In Red Dress with Exposed Breast, Holding Bird, Oil on Canvas
By Rick Beerhorst
Located in Chicago, IL
The raven is often thought of as a connection between the spiritual and physical world. In this painting, a wise young girl holds a raven in her hands up to her eye as if searching for some great meaning. A clock and a burning candle in the foreground suggests a symbolic connection between the two. The peaceful mountain landscape...
Oil, Canvas