Collected Works
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An original oil painting by Meli Axford
Oil on acrylic primed canvas, 2024, 150 × 120 cm
‘Sibling Rivalry After Helmut Newton’ plays with the dynamic tension between two sisters in a sun-soaked poolside scene.
Inspired by the provocative compositions of Helmut Newton, this painting captures the subtle competition and complex relationship that often exists between siblings.
The work channels a sense of empowerment while reflecting the unspoken competition inherent in close familial relationships.
Created as a part of the ‘Pool Series’. Discover more about the series and its inspirations here.
An original oil painting by Meli Axford
Oil on canvas, 2024, 150 × 120 cm
‘Man Made Again’ explores the intersection of human design and nature. The stark orange backdrop and angular chair contrast with the figure's soft curves as she contemplates the water’s edge.
The simplicity of the composition emphasizes the interplay between the vibrant man-made surroundings and the natural elements of water and light, creating a moment of quiet reflection.
The title hints at the tension between natural instincts and the constructed environment as the girl navigates a space shaped by human hands.
Created as a part of the ‘Pool Series’’ and on show at Tweed Regional Gallery as part of Meli’s ‘Portraits of Love’ exhibition.
An original oil painting by Meli Axford
Oil on canvas, 2024, 150 × 120 cm
“Oops, I Did It Again, Again” captures the playful exasperation of an all-too-familiar scenario. Mia stands ready with a pool skimmer, prepared to retrieve the ball that has once again landed in the water. Polo, the mischievous instigator, looks on eagerly while Lily relaxes on the pool's edge, watching the scene unfold with amused detachment.
The vibrant pink tones of the pool and the lush greenery create a surreal, whimsical backdrop, amplifying the lighthearted energy of the moment.
The title reflects the recurring nature of this playful mishap, a humorous reminder of how even the simplest games can feel endless in their repetition. Created as a part of the ‘Pool Series’’ and on show at Tweed Regional Gallery as part of Meli’s ‘Portraits of Love’ exhibition.
An original oil painting, 2024
Oil on canvas, 150 × 120 cm
‘Sibling Rivalry Revisited’ captures the playful and cheeky dynamics of sibling relationships. In this lighthearted scene, Mia stands above Lily, her expression mischievous as she places her foot gently on Lily’s hair. Lily, reclining on the poolside, giggles in response, fully aware that it’s all part of the game.
The painting beautifully conveys the humour and connection that often underpin sibling bonds.
The pastel pink backdrop, accented with vibrant greens and soft blue shadows, creates a whimsical yet serene atmosphere, amplifying the charm of the moment.
Created as a part of the ‘Pool Series’. Discover more about the series and its inspirations here.
Summer Pause by Meli Axford
Summer Pause captures a tranquil moment of stillness beneath the warm sun. The figure lounges on a towel, obscured by a large sunhat, as if taking a quiet break from the day’s activities. In the background, a small dog waits patiently with a ball, eager for play but respecting the stillness of the moment. The soft pastel tones of the setting evoke a sense of calm, contrasting with the energy of the waiting dog. The title reflects the fleeting moments of rest and relaxation in the midst of a vibrant summer day.
Medium: Oil on Canvas | Dimensions: 1500mm x 1200mm | Year: 2024
Gentle Moments by Meli Axford
Gentle Moments captures the quiet, tender interactions that make up the fabric of everyday life. Mia walks playfully with Polo, a ball in hand, while Lily rests in peaceful solitude, observing from the pool’s edge. The soft pink tones of the background and the gentle light create an atmosphere of calm and intimacy. The simplicity of the scene reflects the beauty found in small, unspoken connections, whether between friends, siblings, or pets. The title speaks to the softness and serenity of these fleeting moments, where time seems to pause.
Medium: Oil on Canvas | Dimensions: 1500mm x 1200mm | Year: 2024
2022
Oil & Acrylic on Polycotton
1500mm by 1200mm
Finalist in the Wollumbin Art Award 2022
2022
Oil & Acrylic on Polycotton
1500mm by 1200mm
Finalist Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2022
An original oil painting by Meli Axford
Oil on canvas, 2021, 100 × 80 cm
In Polo Takes A Dip, a small moment unfolds within a larger emotional landscape. A family dog approaches the pool while two female figures occupy the scene with a quiet sense of ease and familiarity. Set against the rolling hills of the Northern Rivers, the painting combines the intimacy of domestic life with the expansive beauty of the Australian landscape.
Much of my practice explores the intersection between place, memory and emotional experience. While the works are rooted in observations of my own family and surroundings, they are less concerned with documenting specific moments than with capturing states of being — safety, connection, freedom and belonging.
The pool has become a recurring motif throughout my work. Over time, I came to understand it as a symbol of emotional sanctuary: a protected space where vulnerability, playfulness and self-expression can coexist. The figures and animals that inhabit these environments act as stand-ins for broader human experiences of care, trust and relationship.
Like much of my Pool Series, Polo Takes A Dip balances the everyday with the symbolic. The painting invites viewers to reflect on the places and relationships that allow us to feel most fully ourselves, and on the quiet forms of love that shape our lives in ways we often only recognise much later.
An original oil painting by Meli Axford
Acrylic & Oil on Cotton, 2021, 100cm by 80cm
At first glance, the work depicts a familiar scene: a girl, a dog and a swimming pool set within the lush landscape of the Northern Rivers. Yet even in this early painting, the elements that would become central to the series are already present — the pool as sanctuary, the female figure as protagonist, and the landscape as an emotional rather than purely physical space.
Created before I fully understood the deeper motivations behind the work, Big Pink Pool now feels like an early conversation with my subconscious. The intense pink palette transforms the scene from observation into something more psychological and symbolic. The landscape becomes dreamlike, memory-infused and emotionally charged, while the pool itself radiates a sense of possibility, freedom and protection.
Throughout my practice, I explore themes of love, belonging, visibility and emotional safety. Over time, I came to recognise that the pool was not simply a recurring motif but a symbol of the environments in which people can flourish — spaces where vulnerability is met with care and where authentic self-expression becomes possible.
The solitary female figure stands poised at the water's edge, accompanied by a watchful companion. Together they occupy a moment of quiet anticipation, suspended between reflection and action. Like much of the Pool Series, the work invites viewers to project their own memories and emotions into the scene, creating a space where personal experience and collective longing intersect.
Looking back, Big Pink Pool feels less like the beginning of a painting series than the beginning of a long process of self-discovery. It is the first articulation of questions that would continue to unfold through the work: What does safety look like? How do we become ourselves? And what kinds of love make that possible?
100cm by 80cm
Acrylic & Oil on Cotton
Fetch Polo, Fetch captures one of those fleeting family moments that sits somewhere between observation and imagination. Mia walks the edge of the pool while Polo is looking at his reflection intently. A tennis ball rests on the paving behind her. The title poses a playful question: is Mia fetching Polo, or is she encouraging Polo to fetch the ball? The ambiguity is intentional. Like much of my work, the painting invites viewers to complete the story themselves.
This work belongs to my Pool Series, a body of paintings that began as depictions of family life and gradually revealed themselves to be something much deeper. Over time I came to understand that the pools in my paintings were not simply pools. They had become symbols of safety, freedom, care and emotional belonging — the environments in which people can relax into being fully themselves.
Colour plays a central role in communicating these ideas. Throughout the series I often use intense pinks and luminous blues, not because they accurately describe the landscape, but because they describe an emotional reality.
For me, blue carries a sense of calm, openness and psychological spaciousness. It evokes the feeling of safety that allows curiosity, play and growth to emerge. Pink, by contrast, introduces energy, warmth and emotional intensity. It speaks to love, connection, tenderness and the life force that animates relationships. Together, the two colours create a visual tension between tranquillity and vitality — between sanctuary and aliveness.
In Fetch Polo, Fetch, the cool blue water and electric pink highlights transform an ordinary afternoon into something dreamlike and symbolic. The landscape becomes less a specific location and more an emotional terrain shaped by memory, affection and imagination.
At the heart of my practice is a belief that love creates the conditions for freedom. The figures, animals and domestic scenes that appear throughout my work are not merely portraits of my family. They are explorations of the environments that allow people to flourish: places where they feel seen, safe and accepted enough to become themselves.
Like many of the paintings in the Pool Series, Fetch Polo, Fetch celebrates the quiet moments through which those feelings are built. A child. A dog. A game. A pool. A landscape. Small things that, when viewed through the lens of memory and love, become profound.
Meli Axford 2023 Pool Series #59
Oil on Board
12cm by 17cm
Meli Axford 2023
#56 in Pool Series
Oil on Board
12cm by 17cm
