artist paints eyes on stones and then returns them to the place where she found them

melbourne-based artist jennifer allnutt creates images which move across realism and illusionism. her hyperrealistic paintings contain elements that makes one wonder if they’re from this world or not. ‘I’m fascinated by those in-between, grey areas, intangibles and ambiguities and then fusing these into the physicality and language of paint,’ comments allnutt on her artistic practice.

all images courtesy of jennifer allnutt

while doing an artistic residency at queenstown’s Q bank gallery, allnutt started the project of transforming collected rocks by painting eyes on them with her distinctive style. but the plan didn’t stop there, she then returned them to the landscape with the wish of someone founding them or for them to be lost forever. ‘queenstown has an extensive mining history and there are many unusual rocks everywhere,’ the artist told bored panda. ‘so I began a collection and what started as something for myself grew into a treasure/hunt community art project.’

the rocks, which can be a little sinister to some, have become an internet sensation. and when not painting eyes on stones, jennifer allnutt creates surrealist portraits, where she explores the odd, the unconscious mind, transformation and identity.

project info:

author: jennifer allnutt

project: eyes on stones

gallery: q bank gallery