Brooke Marchel
Brooke Marchel is an artist based in Sydney who specialises in oil painting. Working almost exclusively on a small scale, she uses books and other materials as extensions of her conceptual practice, exploring themes of storytelling, intimacy and human experience through darkness and chiaroscuro lighting.
Books hold a central place within Marchel’s practice, functioning as both surface and conceptual framework through which she explores storytelling, memory and intimacy. Her book works often incorporate theatrical depictions of isolated figures paired with text, creating open-ended narratives that invite contemplation and interpretation.
Her interest in suggesting a lingering human presence extends beyond the depiction of figures; in her paintings on linen, a well-worn groove in an armchair, a glowing lamp, or a breeze flowing through an open window become signifiers of a deeper story. By leaving only a trace of energy, Marchel invites viewers to project their own memories and emotions into her introspective and often wistful narratives, engaging with the shared intimacies of human experience.
