Eleanor Bartlett - Between Emptiness and Matter

Eleanor Bartlett, born in 1951 in Wiltshire, is a contemporary artist who uses unconventional materials such as tar, wax and metal paint in her work. Her oeuvre includes painting, sculpture and installations.

Already at a young age, Bartlett discovered her passion for drawing. Inspired by the picturesque nature of Wiltshire, especially rivers and open water, she practiced capturing the natural beauty of her surroundings as a child. But it wasn’t until the second half of her life, in her late 50s, that she found the freedom to devote herself fully to her artistic passion.¹ In the early years of her artistic career, Bartlett devoted herself intensively to drawing natural objects. Fascinated by the repetitive patterns and forms of nature, they inspired her to engage philosophically with form and matter.¹ This exploration and her encounter with a work by Antoni Tàpies at the Tate Modern changed her artistic expression towards abstract painting.

The main material she chooses for her works is tar, a viscous, sticky and black-brown substance. Tar is produced when organic materials such as coal, wood, peat or crude oil are heated at high temperatures and in the absence of oxygen. Due to its viscosity and malleability, tar is a challenging medium that is not easy to control.

Eleanor Bartlett, Mater 2, 2020, Tar on prepared board, 244x122cm © The Artist, Image Courtesy Three Works — Mater 2, 2020, Tar on prepared board, 244x122cm © The Artist, Image Courtesy Three Works

Eleanor Bartlett, Diptych, 2016, Tar, metal paint on canvas, 46 x26cm (each) © The Artist, Image Courtesy Tin Type Gallery — Diptych, 2016, Tar, metal paint on canvas, 46 x26cm (each) © The Artist, Image Courtesy Tin Type Gallery

Eleanor Bartlett, Tablet 2, 2020, Wax on wood frame, 76x62cm © The Artist, Image Courtesy Three Works — Tablet 2, 2020, Wax on wood frame, 76x62cm © The Artist, Image Courtesy Three Works

However, for Bartlett, working with tar is an intuitive and spontaneous process in which she engages in a deep, direct connection with the material.² She enters into a dialogue with the material, where she not only influences the material but also allows the material to guide her actions. Wax is also an important material in her work, which she often merges with the robust properties of tar.

Some of Eleanor Bartlett’s works are dynamic, full of texture and materiality and exude an incredible energy, while others are calm, almost meditative and minimalist. These calm works invite us as viewers to penetrate the apparent simplicity of the surface and discover the complex depths beneath.

In her works, she deals with universal themes such as the material nature of reality and the proximity to nothingness. Each piece evolves in layers, and each new layer represents a conscious decision by the artist. Bartlett believes that her works must be viewed in person to be truly appreciated and understood. Unlike flat screens or reproductions, the artist says, the complexity and physical presence of her work can only be fully grasped through direct experience.

Through Eleanor Bartlett’s unique, artistic approach, she creates expressive works that reflect her admiration for nature and her philosophical reflections on the material world.