Stella Jones: Pixelation and Preservation

For Stella Jones, art begins close to home.

Born and raised in lutruwita/Tasmania, her connection to place is at the heart of her practice -and it’s something she brings vividly to life in her ArtRage work, Forrestiana eucalypt.

“It’s about conservation,” she explains. “Our environment is already so beautiful - we just need to notice it.”

Stella’s painting focuses on native flora, isolating delicate botanical forms against a pixelated background. The effect is striking. By simplifying and abstracting the surroundings, the eye is drawn entirely to the plant itself - its colour, detail, and presence.

“You don’t have to look at anything else,” she said. “It’s just the subject - what I want people to see.”

The pixelation technique, inspired by her earlier experiments, also carries a conceptual layer. It echoes the idea of obscuring or removing unnecessary information - similar to how images are blurred or redacted - allowing the essential message to come forward.

 

Her broader body of work expands on these ideas of preservation and renewal. Alongside her paintings, Stella has created a series of painted furniture pieces using recycled materials - old chairs, tables, and frames sourced from family homes and tip shops.

“It’s about giving things a new life,” she says. “Keeping them out of landfill.”

This approach reflects her wider concern for the environment, shaped by what she’s observed growing up – pollution, invasive species, and the gradual loss of native ecosystems.

“I’ve seen how much is being destroyed,” she says. “So I want people to see how beautiful it is – and why it matters.”

Inspiration often comes from those closest to her. Both of her grandmothers are artists, working with everything from jewellery to coloured pencil drawings, often focusing on native subjects.

“They’re both amazing,” Stella says. “They’ve definitely inspired me.”

 

After graduating, Stella plans to take a gap year - continuing to make art and explore where it might lead. Whether that’s further study or work in a gallery, she’s open to the possibilities.

For students following a similar path, her advice is grounded and reassuring:

“Don’t try to make it perfect straight away. Just start. Make something - and then build from there.”

 

Explore Stella's work below. 

 

 

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