Artist Bio
Artist Bio
Lynda Bunnell is a Southern California mixed-media artist whose work explores memory, impermanence, and the quiet relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through layered surfaces, atmospheric imagery, and symbolic forms, she creates paintings that invite contemplation and offer a visual pause in an increasingly noisy world.
Her artistic journey has been one of continual exploration and evolution. In 2012, Bunnell began creating intricately woven pine needle vessels, harvesting and hand-dyeing natural materials while developing a deep appreciation for texture, color, and the beauty of organic forms. This early work laid the foundation for her current painting practice, where layers are built, obscured, and revealed in a process that mirrors the passage of time.
In 2018 she was inspired to rekindle her passion for painting, which opened the door to a new chapter of creative discovery. Since then, her work has evolved into a distinctive visual language that balances abstraction and representation. Birds, rabbits, vessels, water, horizons, and luminous celestial forms often emerge from weathered surfaces, serving as quiet witnesses within landscapes that feel both timeless and familiar.
Inspired by the patina of ancient architecture, archaeological artifacts, and the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, Bunnell embraces imperfection, erosion, and the stories held within layered surfaces. Her paintings are less concerned with depicting a specific place than with evoking a sense of presence—creating spaces where mystery is welcomed and what remains partially hidden can be as meaningful as what is revealed.
Bunnell has studied with numerous contemporary artists and participated in programs including the Creative Visionary Program, Art2Life Academy, and the Mark Eanes Academy. She is an active member of the Oceanside Museum of Art Artist Alliance, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Artist Guild, Off Track Gallery, the San Dieguito Art Guild, and the North Coastal Art Gallery/Carlsbad Oceanside Art League.
Her work is held in private collections throughout the United States.
Selected Juried Exhibitions:
The San Diego County Fair’s Fine Art Exhibition, 2016.
NICHE Magazine & NICHE Awards, 2016.
Sip Art Space Gallery, Radiant, San Marcos, CA, 2024.
Gallery 21 Solo Show, Nature, Vessels, and Buddha, Balboa Park, San Diego, 2024.
Hummingbird Dragonfly Art gallery, Endless Creativity, 2025.
Art Mozaik Fine Art Gallery, Spring Reflection, Santa Fe, NM, 2025.
North Coastal Art Gallery, Natures Pallet, Carlsbad, CA, 2025.
Off Track Gallery, Various, Encinitas, CA, 2025
Sparks Gallery, Elemental, San Diego, CA, 2025.
Tranquillity - 2025, Juried Annual Exhibition.
Creative Dose at Ashton Gallery, San Diego, CA, 2026
The Crow Show at Studio Door, San Diego, CA, 2026
Gallery Representation:
West Winds Gallery, Grand Junction, Colorado.
North Coastal Art Gallery, Carlsbad, California.
Artist Statement
“My work is a personal journey of self-discovery, where the path unfolds as I engage in an ongoing dialogue with the art itself. I rarely begin with a specific plan; instead, I create the conditions for a reciprocal exchange. Though my pieces are primarily abstract, an underlying visual order gradually emerges through the process. I work experimentally, allowing the unknown to guide me rather than relying on deliberate decisions. The conversation with the artwork continues until it reaches its natural conclusion, a shared understanding that marks the end of this evolving exchange.”
Vessels, Nature and Buddha
Gallery 21 Solo Show 2024