**Inverell Artist’s Floral Artwork Gains Unexpected Recognition from Bindi Irwin**
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**Inverell, New South Wales** – Alex Mason, an emerging Australian artist, has found herself in the spotlight after a surprise purchase of her artwork by none other than Bindi Irwin, the daughter of the late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin. Mason, who began her artistic journey in 2022 as a form of therapy to alleviate anxiety, expressed her excitement over this unexpected accolade.
The day started like any other for Mason, who was relaxing on her couch when she received a notification from Shopify announcing a sale. The purchase was thrilling enough, but her excitement reached new heights when she discovered the name of the buyer: Bindi Irwin. “When I clicked on it, it said ‘Bindi Irwin,’” Mason recounted. “I thought, no way!”
Bindi, an accomplished wildlife advocate and current CEO of Australia Zoo in Queensland, had stumbled across Mason’s work, leading to a purchase that has turned into a significant highlight of Mason’s budding career. Initially sceptical about Bindi’s knowledge of her artwork, Mason confirmed the order’s legitimacy through the shipping details which pointed to Australia Zoo.
In a whirlwind of emotions, Mason raced to share the news with her husband, who was recovering from pneumonia in hospital at the time. In her excitement, she slipped on the floor and landed face-first, highlighting the sheer surprise of the moment. Calls to friends and family followed, as well as a heartfelt video shared on social media, capturing her reactions to this new milestone.
Mason, who celebrated her 30th birthday recently, lives in the quiet town of Inverell and had never expected to receive recognition from someone as prominent as Bindi Irwin. “She doesn’t follow me from her personal account, so I had no idea she was even aware of me,” Mason explained. “How she found me is still a mystery!”
The unexpected nature of the purchase was particularly refreshing for Mason, who appreciated that Bindi valued her work enough to buy it without discussion of a collaboration or requesting it for free. “It was lovely to see someone like her respect my time and effort as an artist,” she added.
Mason’s journey into the world of art began as a therapeutic outlet during her previous role as a youth worker. Struggling with anxiety, she turned to painting as a method of relaxation and self-expression. Initially focusing on simplistic designs adorned with palm trees and thick paint, her style evolved as she embraced vibrant colours and textured floral forms created with piping and palette knives.
Despite her life-long interest in art, which was nurtured by her mother who was also a talented artist, Mason never considered it a viable career path until recently. Following her decision to fully embrace her artistic aspirations, Mason quickly gained recognition, receiving numerous commissions and achieving a sell-out collection shortly after launching her website in November 2022.
Creativity runs through her family, with a talented father who is a professional landscape and wildlife photographer. This familial connection to the natural world perhaps makes Irwin’s choice to purchase Mason’s art feel particularly serendipitous – a fact Mason reflected on with pride.
The piece selected by Bindi, titled “Couldn’t Be Happier,” is rich in Australian flora, featuring waratahs, banksias, and proteas against a light green backdrop. The artwork draws inspiration from a song from the musical Wicked, which Mason admits has been a source of inspiration and a fixation for her over the past two years.
After the purchase, Mason attempted to reach out and thank Bindi, but a lack of mutual connection on social media made it challenging. However, she soon received a comment from Bindi on her Instagram reel about the purchase, alongside a message from Terri Irwin, Bindi’s mother.
Since sharing her experience, Mason’s post has garnered significant attention, reaching hundreds of thousands of views and attracting a wave of new followers. As she prepares for an upcoming exhibition at Sydney’s Affordable Art Fair in November, Mason is keen on maintaining her artistic integrity and isn’t rushing to take on more work than she can handle.
Beyond Irwin, Mason has also attracted interest from other notable figures, having previously been approached by Chrissy Teigen regarding artwork for her daughter’s nursery, although that project did not come to fruition.
“More than anything, my artwork represents me and what resonates with me at the time,” Mason noted. With a recent diagnosis of ADHD, she finds the repetitive nature of painting soothing, often listening to a specific album on repeat as she creates, leading her to name her pieces after the soundtracks that inspire them.
Looking ahead, Mason is planning to expand her creative ventures, with aspirations to develop a clothing line alongside her artwork. “It’s an incredible turn of events, but it won’t divert me from my plans for the future,” she concluded, underscoring her commitment to continued artistic exploration and sharing her passion with others.