Artist profile
Carli
Piltz
Carli is a Melbourne-based self taught artist creating bright, nostalgic pieces that weave together stylised florals, retro patterns, and vintage household treasures.
Carli is a self-taught Melbourne-based artist drawn to nostalgic household objects, retro patterns, and florals. Her work combines bright colour palettes, stylised blooms, vintage vases, bold wallpapers, and lace tablecloths - often all within a single composition - to create joyful, maximalist pieces that brighten any space.
Since taking up acrylic painting in 2020, Carli has explored a range of techniques and experimented with styles, including abstraction, gradually developing her own distinctive visual voice. Her work has been featured in several local exhibitions, including Brunswick Street Gallery and a curated display in Abbotsford, and she was recently named a finalist in the 2026 MAVA Art Prize.
For Carli, painting is a deeply rewarding creative outlet, and she cherishes nothing more than seeing people connect with her work and welcome it into their homes.
Artist Quote
- After beginning to paint during the early months of the pandemic, I gained the confidence to submit my work to the Camberwell Art Show, one of Australia’s premier selected entry exhibitions. I was thrilled to have two pieces accepted - and even more delighted when both works sold!
- In 2023 I was selected to exhibit in the Small Wall series at Dr Morse Bar in Abbotsford, where five of my works were displayed for a month. It was a wonderful experience to share the exhibition with friends and family and to see my pieces showcased against the venue’s distinctive brick walls.
- In 2025 I was named a finalist in the MAVA Art Prize. With its theme of Minimalism and Maximalism, the award offered a perfect opportunity to showcase my style. My piece Instant Coffee is currently on display as part of the MAVA Art Prize exhibition at Artemesia Gallery in Windsor.
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I work primarily with acrylics because they suit the practical realities of creating in a small apartment - drying quickly and allowing me to work efficiently without the concern of long curing times. I’m also drawn to the level of control the medium offers, which supports the precision and detail in my style.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
My ‘studio’ doubles as my home office in our small apartment, but it has become a personal sanctuary for creating. With my little dog Paz usually snoozing beside me, I spend much of my spare time painting in this space. The room overlooks our balcony, with views of trams trundling past the local art deco cinema and the distant outline of the Dandenongs.
