Valerie Ellis
“Impressionism, to me, isn’t just how things look - it’s how they feel the moment you see them."
Valerie Ellis is a British-Australian visual artist whose work explores the intersection of psychology and aesthetics through a refined impressionist realism. Originally trained in representational portraiture and later formally educated at The Royal College of Art, Ellis integrates a background in psychotherapy to create works that are not just seen, but felt.
Her paintings emphasize gesture, light, and emotional resonance, drawing from the traditions of Degas, Monet, and Sorolla while remaining rooted in contemporary concerns. Influenced by her dual heritage and early experiences of cultural displacement, Ellis' art reflects a deep sensitivity to transience and beauty. Her practice engages impressionism not only as a visual style but as a philosophical lens for understanding the ephemeral nature of perception.
From her 'Touch Me' and 'First Impressions' series to her recent exhibitions at RCA Kensington, Ellis continues to develop a body of work that merges psychological inquiry with painterly immediacy. Her art offers a nuanced, modern take on impressionism, one where emotional and sensory realities are equally foregrounded.
