Negotiated Proximity

Negotiated Proximity considers the point at which two forms meet. Broad fields of green approach from opposing corners, their irregular contours converging at a small, compressed junction that becomes the quiet centre of the work.
Variations in opacity reveal the accumulation of painted layers, shifting from soft, washed passages to areas of greater intensity. Surrounded by generous areas of untouched canvas, the forms feel both grounded and slightly precarious — held together by a single moment of contact.

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Caroline Borghetto is a contemporary abstract artist based in Torquay on Wadawurrung Country, Victoria. Working from her studio at Ashmore Arts, she creates paintings that explore connection, belonging and the subtle negotiations that shape how we relate—to one another, to communities and to the broader systems we move within.

Working primarily in acrylic on Belgian linen and clear-primed cotton canvas, Caroline develops each composition through a balance of considered planning and intuitive mark-making. Layered translucent forms, restrained palettes and quiet spatial relationships create works that invite contemplation while leaving space for individual interpretation.

Her recent body of work, States of Belonging, examines how patterns of connection, distance and exchange repeat across multiple scales—from intimate relationships to wider social and cultural structures. Her paintings invite viewers into quiet moments of reflection, where familiar patterns of connection, distance and belonging can be experienced through abstraction rather than illustration.

Caroline has exhibited regularly since 2022 and has undertaken artist residencies including the Neighbourhood Lab Residency at Platform Arts. She has been shortlisted for the Omnia Art Prize and her work is held in private collections throughout Australia and internationally.