For Bella McGoldrick, art is more than just a craft; it’s a rebellion, a reinvention, and a testament to her independent spirit. The Kiwi-born, Australian-raised artist first found her footing in New York City, only to have her trajectory dramatically reshaped when she was permanently banned from the United States for creating art on a fraudulent visa. Then, she decided to write a book about it called Visa Issues. Now based in Byron Bay, McGoldrick has turned that twist of fate into fuel for her work, building a career that thrives outside the confines of tradition.
Known for her photorealistic coloured pencil drawings, McGoldrick’s modern still-life compositions explore the beauty in the overlooked. Food, consumer goods, foreign lands, and everyday mundanities come alive in her pieces, inviting viewers to find connection and familiarity in fleeting moments. Her work speaks to an intimacy that feels both personal and universal, reflecting her keen ability to capture the extraordinary within the ordinary.
Proudly independent, McGoldrick has carved out her own path, rejecting traditional gallery representation in favour of alternative ways to create and share her art. Literature is a strong source of inspiration for her, whether it's Hemingway and his audacity, or Didion’s sharp-eyed prose. As a voracious reader, her nightstand hosts Dostoevsky one day and Bourdain the next.
Below, we speak with Bella McGoldrick about her journey as an artist and the books that shaped her.
The last book I read …
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. The Sun Also Rises fully changed my view on writing and this one made me feel like I could be a Hemingway - how audacious - I guess that's why he’s good.
On my bedside table: I am currently reading …
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. And have been ‘reading’ for a while.
My favourite book of all time …
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I could die happy if anything I wrote were considered a sliver as good as any page in this book.
The literary character I most identify with is …
Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s - or maybe it's just who I want to be.
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The book that changed my life is …
On Writing by Steven King. Not only did this book make me want to write, but it taught me how and then made it look easy.
The best book I ever received is…
Boom: Mad Money, Mega Dealers, and the Rise of Contemporary Art by Michael Shnayerson. From a friend I met in Amsterdam who invited me to dinner and now gives me the best book recommendations I’ve ever known.
The book I would give as a gift is …
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion. Or anything Didion.
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Growing up, the best book on my bookshelf was …
The Twilight Saga. The pride I had from displaying the 4 large (or so I felt) novels that I actually made it through. Twice. How cool, how brainy.
The Australian writer I admire the most is….
Newly published Lucinda Froomes Price of All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Hot
