03/06/2026
I’m going to be a little cliché here: they say a photo tells a thousand words, and this one certainly does.
Meet Ian Bernadt, an avid art collector right here in Western Australia. It was an absolute delight to meet him, photograph him, and quite simply, connect with him.
When I walked into his space, I was utterly astonished by the sheer volume of art he has everywhere. Sculptures, oil paintings, pastels—he collects everything. Just when I thought, wow, this is a lot, he let slip that he has a entire shipping container completely full in storage, too!
But my absolute favorite part about shooting these creative commissions is uncovering the stories behind the art. The ‘reason why.’
Take the yellow Crocs he’s wearing, which perfectly match the vibrant yellow painting in his checkered dining room. Why those? Because they remind him of his late wife. 💔
It’s those tiny, deeply personal details that hold all the emotion.
These photos feature in the current issue of Art Collector (Issue 116). Go grab a copy to see the full feature!