Growth and Renewal in a Unique and Humble Artistic Medium
Tara Lee Bennett has transformed paper into an extraordinary art form. Her practice is defined by meticulous patience, where every fragment is drawn, cut, and assembled into elaborate works that appear impossibly intricate. Each piece reflects not only the fragility of the material itself but also its infinite potential for reinvention.
The foundation of her work lies in the duality of paper. Accessible and humble, it is also endlessly capable of transformation. This is the paradox Bennett embraces, demonstrating how something so simple can become extravagant and layered with meaning. Her latest series employs a monochrome aesthetic, a choice that amplifies the delicacy of her cuts while allowing the viewer to focus on form, texture, and rhythm without distraction.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Bennett lived in Australia for several years before settling in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her formal training took place at the Enmore Design Centre in Sydney, where she honed her skills and discovered her fascination with material exploration. Since 2019, she has been based at the historic 1000 Parker Street Studios, a hub for some of the city’s most compelling creators.
Bennett’s practice is infused with themes of growth and renewal. These motifs reflect both her personal journey and her artistic evolution, blossoming into intricate paper florals and imagined botanical worlds. Some of her creations take inspiration from real species such as irises, dahlias, and peonies, while others are entirely imagined. Together, they form gardens that celebrate abundance, lushness, and beauty.
Her vision has resonated widely, earning features in publications including Western Living, ELLE Decoration Germany, and My Modern Met. She has also shared her insights through Creative Mornings and PechaKucha talks, engaging audiences with her reflections on process and creativity.
Bennett’s work has been collected by prominent organizations such as Aritzia, Earls, and Microsoft Vancouver. In 2023, she was invited as PiDGiN’s Artist in Residence, where her monochromatic series inspired not only the restaurant’s atmosphere but also the culinary creations of Chef Wesley Young. His lychee and coconut dessert echoed Bennett’s layered approach, reimagining her paper textures through taste and form.
Her collaborations extend into other cultural spaces. At Culmina Estate Winery, she created works that intertwined the natural world with refined winemaking. For Lover’s Tempo’s Full Circle Artist Program, she transformed recycled jewelry fragments into new creations, demonstrating how reinvention and sustainability are central to her philosophy.
Bennett’s current series, titled Lush, embodies her exploration of renewal. While often rooted in floral imagery, these works go beyond petals and stems to speak to abundance, resilience, and transformation. Each piece is a meditation on possibility—how a modest sheet of paper can evolve into something monumental.
Her practice celebrates both discipline and imagination. It is not unusual for her to dedicate an entire day to constructing a single flower, the results speaking to patience and devotion. The monochrome approach highlights not only technical precision but also conceptual clarity.
As her career continues to expand, Bennett remains botanically minded, yet her chosen medium offers limitless potential. With paper as her guide, the future is open to endless interpretation. One never knows what form her next world will take, but it will certainly be cut, folded, and assembled with extraordinary care.