Surreal Shell Portraits
Limited Edition
Limited edition fine art prints by Australian artist Carmen Delprat
Each Shell Portrait begins with a single shell and a single question: what does this shell hold? A woman is crowned, veiled or entwined with a shell such as Rose Murex, Siratus, Black Murex and Spider Shell, and the shell becomes a symbol of protection, resilience or transformation.
These portraits are illustrations, made in my studio in Newcastle, NSW, and inspired by my collection of shells and experiences of the Australian coastline. Selected works are available as hand-signed, numbered limited edition prints, capped at 100 per size.
What is a Shell Portrait
Shell portraits are a series of surreal figurative works in which a shell stands in for something we can't easily say: memory, strength, protection, change.
A shell can be picked up on a beach and kept for years, and I paint what it might mean to keep it.
Each portrait is guided by the symbolism of its shell.
Rose Murex: Tenderness with boundaries; beauty that protects itself.
Lightning Whelk: Individuality, and a spark that changes direction.
Spider Shell: Awareness, connection and delicate threads between people and memories.
Chiragra Spider Conch: Strength worn openly; fierce, defended, unafraid.
Cassis Cornuta: Armour and endurance; quiet strength and being seen for who you are.
You can read more in The Symbolism of Shells in Art.
