Ali Bartlett
About
Ali Bartlett (b. 1998) is an American painter based in London. Her work explores themes of isolation and solitude, particularly in relation to technology and contemporary life. Through her use of space, color, and light, she seeks moments of quiet wonder. Bartlett draws inspiration from film, photography, and theater, especially their use of implied narrative and immersive storytelling. She sees art as inherently manipulative, capable of subtly guiding the viewer’s senses, thoughts, and emotions. Representational yet withholding, she aims to create works that are emotionally resonant and quietly bold – pieces that draw the viewer in, then gently unsettle or shift their perception. For Bartlett, painting is fundamentally psychological: an exchange of minds.
Drawn to the tension between clarity and obscurity, Bartlett began working with shower curtains while studying at the RCA. The semi-transparent surface provides a way to explore these opposing forces in both concept and form, acting as a threshold where it is neither fully seen nor fully concealed. As light passes through, the colors are magnified and transformed; light becomes integral to the work itself, filtering through the fabric, shifting mood and narrative, casting chromatic shadows on the surrounding walls, and activating the space as part of the piece.
Bartlett received her BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design in 2020 and her MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art in 2025.
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