Ingrid Boot — Contemporary Figurative Oil Painter

Ingrid Boot creates paintings of striking elegance and cinematic beauty, where refined realism meets a sense of timeless escapism. Classically trained in the United Kingdom, Boot studied Fine Art at University of Westminster before completing a degree in Illustration at De Montfort University. In 2000 she relocated to New Zealand, where the quiet coastal town of Ōrewa became both her home and creative sanctuary. Working from her studio near the Pacific coastline, Boot produces a carefully considered body of work each year, with paintings now held in private collections internationally.

Boot’s work centers on powerful female figures portrayed with poise, confidence, and individuality. Drawing inspiration from the elegance of vintage fashion editorials and mid-century glamour, she presents women who command their presence within carefully composed environments. Each composition evokes an atmosphere of calm sophistication, images that feel both nostalgic and contemporary while offering viewers a momentary escape into a world defined by beauty, composure, and quiet strength.

Her paintings emerge from a meticulous and highly disciplined process. Concepts begin through research and sketching before evolving into staged photographic sessions with models, where wardrobe, gesture, and environment are thoughtfully constructed. Using these references, Boot develops richly layered compositions rendered with exceptional attention to texture, light, and narrative that transform fleeting moments into immersive and highly refined works of art.

A recent body of work draws inspiration from the iconic photography of Slim Aarons, whose celebrated images of 1960s leisure and glamour captured what he famously described as “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” Boot reinterprets this visual language through her own lens, constructing scenes that evoke the effortless luxury of the era while placing confident, self-possessed women at their center. Where Aarons documented a moment in time, Boot expands it by infusing each painting with narrative depth and a distinctly contemporary sensibility.

A subtle and playful signature appears within every painting: a small hidden lizard. Inspired by the tradition of English furniture maker Robert Thompson, who carved a discreet mouse into each piece of his work, Boot began incorporating the tiny creature as a personal mark within her compositions. The motif was inspired by encounters with island geckos she discovered while traveling in Rarotonga, and it has since become a quiet invitation for viewers to discover the hidden detail within each scene.

Boot’s work has been exhibited extensively throughout New Zealand and internationally over the past two decades. She has presented numerous solo exhibitions, including Ingrid Boot Showcase at Flagstaff Gallery, The Milliner and Alla Moda at The Art Lounge NZ, and En Vogue at Bread & Butter Gallery, while also participating in major group exhibitions at Black Door Gallery and other prominent galleries. Her work has been featured in significant public art events including Art in the Park at Eden Park and the Auckland Art Week, where she was selected as an artist-in-residence at Parnell Gallery. Boot is the recipient of the Peters Doig Art Award and the KG Fraser Award, and has been recognized as a finalist in the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards. With a career spanning exhibitions in United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, Boot continues to build a body of work that resonates strongly with collectors drawn to her unique fusion of classical technique, narrative elegance, and contemporary glamour.

Explore Ingrid Boot at DTR Modern Galleries

DTR Modern Galleries is proud to feature works by Ingrid Boot, an artist recognized for her sophisticated figurative paintings that merge classical technique with contemporary narrative. Inspired by the glamour and visual language of mid-century photography, Boot creates meticulously crafted compositions that resonate with collectors around the world. Select works by Ingrid Boot are available through DTR Modern Galleries in New York City, Boston, Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C.