Leafy Seadragon

Leafy Seadragon

By artist: Ingrid Bartkowiak

Watercolour on paper. 43 x 34 x 2 cm

A true master of disguise, the Leafy Seadragon is exceptional at camouflage, blending in seamlessly within its surrounds of kelp in rocky reef areas along the southern coastlines of Australia, and moving in ways that seem to mimic a floating piece of seaweed bobbing around in the ocean. In this artwork, I've explored how, if we were to visually remove the Leafy Seadragon from its habitat and place it on a blank background, it goes from being something essentially unseen, to a marvel of magnificent leafy appendages and incredible structures that demand the viewer's attention. The creature becomes a figure that draws our eye instead of blending into the background. I have, however, left a hint of our main subject's marine home, by placing a silhouette of a second Seadragon behind like a shadow. This silhouette is comprised of elements of the Seadragon's habitat, such as the kelp and seaweed that it relies on to survive and stay hidden from predators. In this way, I am inviting the viewer to consider the relationship between our main subject and its home.

About the artist.

Ingrid Bartkowiak is an artist and illustrator who works primarily in watercolour. Her hand-painted artworks feature native flora, fauna and fungi. At a young age, Ingrid discovered painting as an intimate way of connecting with nature, and she now has a fascination with all things small and intricate, from tufts of moss on a footpath to the fungi sprouting from a wombat dropping. Inspired by botanical illustration and the arts and crafts movement, Ingrid’s technique makes use of the watercolour medium through tiny patterns, exquisite detail, and vivid blocks of colour. Since graduating from the Queensland College of Art in 2019, Ingrid has worked on a diverse range of art projects, including picture book illustration, murals, packaging designs and even pet portraits. She has collaborated with clients such as New Farm Confectionery, the National Library of Australia, Brisbane City Council and exhibited in galleries and group shows across Australia.

Collection or delivery.

This item is part of the Plant Empire Small Wonders Exhibition 2026, on display from 9 May - 7 June. Exhibition items are available for sale in person or online. In the unlikely event that a customer purchases the item in-store at the same time as it is sold online, we will refund the online purchase - thank you in advance for your understanding if this situation does occur. Exhibition pieces will be available for collection in-store or delivered from 11-14 June: to collect your item in person, please select the 'in-store pickup' option at checkout; or to have it delivered, please select either the Australia Post or courier option (Brisbane only) at checkout and your delivery fee will be calculated automatically.