Artist In Residence: Ben Ross

Meet Ben Ross – Melbourne-born, Bondi based artist behind the pastel-hued, personality-packed works now lining the walls of QT Bondi. 

As our latest artist-in-residence, Ben brings a fresh dose of colour, nostalgic hues and playful character to our lobby. Think, pastel waves, expressive figures, and little bursts of joy that invite you to pause, smile, and lean in closer. 

His journey to the art world wasn’t exactly linear from builder to Navy, to pro-footy player, Ben’s path zigzagged before landing where it always belonged: as an artist. Now working full-time across canvas, murals and digital, he’s known for creating moments that feel light-hearted on the surface, but layered in connection, emotion and meaning. 

Hey Ben, welcome to Bondi! What made this artist residency at QT feel like the right fit? 

Thanks for having me! I’ve always loved QT, before I was even working as an artist, I booked a stay here as a treat for my partner. I’ll never forget walking into the room and thinking, this place just gets it. The design, the energy, the experience, it stuck with me. 

Fast forward eight years, and when QT Bondi reached out about showcasing my work, I jumped at the opportunity. The hotel’s always felt like a perfect match for my style: colourful, coastal, a little cheeky. With Bondi Beach on the doorstep, it felt like the right place to share my beach collection. 

For someone new to your work, how would you describe your style? 

That’s always a tricky one! I tend to call it California meets Australian pop, but I’ve had galleries tell me it’s kind of in a world of its own. If I had to sum it up: soft pastel pop with a whole lot of fun and love. 

Your characters have real personality, where do they come from? Are they based on real people? 

I love that you picked up on that, especially since they don’t really have eyes or mouths! It’s all in the colour and shape for me, that’s where the emotion lives. 

It actually started with me drawing myself doing yoga poses while on a trip in Mexico. Back then I had long hair, so that early character had a bit of a surfer vibe. Then I started sketching my partner, friends, family, and now pretty much every figure you see is inspired by someone close to me. It’s my way of keeping them in the work. 

You work across murals, canvas and digital. Do you approach each medium differently? 

Absolutely. Canvas is where I feel freest, that’s where I get experimental and emotional. I layer hidden colours, get a bit messy, and just let the piece evolve. Murals and digital work are usually more tailored for clients, so I’m always trying to merge their vision with my own. 

But yeah, canvas is where my heart is. That said, there’s something special about murals too, bringing a big piece to life and seeing how it makes people feel, especially in a community setting. That connection is what drives me. 

You’ve had a pretty wild career journey; builder, Navy, footy player. Do those chapters influence your work now? 

A hundred percent. Every chapter’s shaped who I am. I paint love, because honestly, the world could always use more of it. I’ve met people from all walks of life, different stories, different struggles, but at the core, we all want the same things: love, connection, a little light in the dark. 

Those experiences made me realise how important it is to create work that feels inclusive. I want people to look at my paintings and feel less alone. 

What does a typical day in your world look like, whether in the studio or up on scaffolding? 

It really depends! Most days start with a beach walk and a surf check with my dogs, that’s my daily reset. 

If I’m on a mural job, I’ll head straight to site, grab a coffee and paint through until the sun goes down. If I’m studio bound, I’ll spend the morning on admin and calls, then dive into canvas work in the afternoon. And if the surf’s still flat by sunset, it’s back to the studio, maybe open a bottle of wine, and paint into the night. 

You’ve said music and film often fuel your creativity, what’s been in the mix lately? 

Music is such a huge part of my process. It opens up these little mental doorways, like soundtracks to a painting. 

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of my mum’s favourite artists. She passed away recently, and I’ve been working on a new collection in her honour. Lots of The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, classic rock… there’s a bit of a cowboy energy coming through. Feels good to be painting with her spirit close by. 

What do you hope people feel when they see your work around the hotel? 

I just hope it lifts something, even just a little. Life can be heavy, and I’ve had my own struggles with depression, so I know how much a small shift in mood can mean. 

If someone sees one of my pieces and smiles, or feels lighter for a second, that’s everything to me. That’s the whole point. 

Ben Ross’s work is now lighting up the walls of QT Bondi, think pastel waves, playful characters, and a whole lot of unexpected joy. Pop by and say hello.