Art Bio

Leni Kae is an Australian contemporary artist and illustrator, based in Sydney’s Inner West. Her works are largely inspired by nature, its energy, and connection to the human spirit and emotional landscape.

An intuitive artist, her artworks follow both an emotional and aesthetic journey captured through colour, flowing patterns, linework, and dripping paint; infused with symbolic attributes of subject and composition. Each of her series has a strong thematic focus on spiritual connection, healing, self-discovery and joy; ultimately with an underlying desire to reinforce ‘connection’ within the self, with others, with nature, and the broader universe.

“Art Inspires us to visit the concept of ‘Unity’ and see ourselves and part of a bigger universe” – Leni Kae

 

In 2020 Leni has been a finalist in the Heysen Prize for Landscape, Mandorla Art Awards, Du Rietz Art Awards, Drummoyne Open Art Prize, Art Lovers Australia Art Prize, and Lethbridge Small Scale Art Prize (online finalist). Her work has attracted international audiences, with exhibitions across New York, London, Varese, Bologna, Barcelona, Florence as well as locally across Australia.

• ANIMAL SPIRIT: As a bird artist, her popular series include “Animal Spirit” features beautiful bird artworks and paintings. Often, the series also includes beautiful Koi Fish art, Betta Fish art and other spiritual animal totems.
• HEALING LANDSCAPES: A series of abstract landscape artworks drawing parallel to the human emotional landscape of healing and transcendence. Infused with dripping colours and layered with petal patterns, each ‘reaching’ for the next; exploring a sense of connection and spiritual growth.
• LINES: As a line artist, Leni Kae’s line art series applies the minimalism of the line as a mean to explore simplicity; and draw an appreciation of life’s precious simple moments.

The self-taught artist has started oil painting at age 9, extending her practice to acrylics, watercolours, illustrations. Kae’s artwork styles too, have evolved over the years, with each series carrying its own unique styling quality.

“Art is an expression of the soul’s journey; and as I evolve, so too does my art. I love the adventure that art brings. Art has the power to reframe our vision of the world. What greater adventure is there?” – Leni Kae.

Early influences included the greats such as Matisse, Dali, Duchamp; her artworks today reflecting their inspiration of her bold colour use, application of symbolism, and movement captured through linework.

Her current abstract landscape series “Healing Landscapes” explores an emotional connection to nature; specifically how it can visually reflect the innermost emotional healing landscape. The series draws visual inspiration from the Fauvist, post-impressionist movement, and the works of van Gogh and John Russell. In this series, we see Leni Kae apply her studies in Colour Therapy to instil symbolism and an emotional response in her works.

As an illustrator, Leni Kae’s illustration is a journey of colour and line art; coupled with whimsical compositions that emanate the notion of dream-like escape. In 2019, the Sydney children’s book illustrator created line drawings for “Year of the Dragon” for the Sydney Jewish Museum.

As a writer, Leni Kae explores both poetry and lyric writing. Her poetry is often inspired by, and created alongside, the production of her paintings; coloured with layered symbolism, just like her art. Leni Kae’s lyric writing has been awarded both semi-finalist and runner up status in Song of the Year Lyric contests.

EDUCATION

Grad Cert Arts and Entertainment Management (Deakin) – recipient of Deans Award and Fairfax Award

Grad Cert Marketing (CSU), Ba Commerce (UNSW)

ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS AND PRIZES

•(2022) Finalist Art Lovers Australia Art Prize

•(2021) Finalist WhiteWall Art Prize

•(2021) Finalist SBS Portrait Prize

•(2021) Online Finalist Lethbridge 20000 Small Art Prize

•(2020) Finalist Art Lovers Australia Art Prize
•(2020) Finalist Du Rietz Art Awards, QLD
•(2020) Heysen Prize for Landscape, SA
•(2020) Online Finalist Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Prize, QLD
•(2020) Finalist Drummoyne Open Art Prize
•(2020) Finalist Mandorla Art Awards, WA
•(2020) Finalist A Florist’s Delight Art Prize, Aspire Gallery QLD
•(2020) Finalist Petite Pieces Art Prize, Aspire Gallery QLD
•(2019) Finalist Georges River Art Prize, Hurstville Gallery Syd NSW
•(2019) Finalist Du Reitz Awards, Gympie Regional Gallery QLD
•(2019) Mornington Peninsula Landscape Art Prize, QLD
•(2019) Kennedy Prize Foundation’s Choice Exhibitor, SA
•(2019) Finalist Dean Cogle Portrait Prize, QLD
•(2019) Finalist,  Southern Buoy Studios, Portrait Art Prize
•(2019) Finalist “Foot Square’ Exhibition, Aspire Gallery, QLD
•(2019) Finalist, Lethbridge Small Art Prize, QLD
•(2018) Online Finalist, Lethbridge Small Art Prize, AUS
•(2016) Finalist, Brisbane Art Prize ‘In Eden, Where Dreams are Born‘, AUS
•(2016) Finalist, Lethbridge Small Art Prize ‘Flight of the Tui’, AUS
•(2014) Online Finalist, Lethbridge Small Art Prize, AUS
• (2013)Semi-finalist, Song of the Year International, for Lyrics “Don’t Go Chasing (After Dark)”
• (2013) Online Finalist, Lethbridge Small Art Prize, AUS
• (2012) Runner Up, Song of the Year International, for Lyrics “White Line”
• (2012) Online Finalist, Lethbridge Small Art Prize, AUS
• (2009) Finalist, London International Creative Competition (LICC) Painting: ‘Lady Freedom’, UK
• (2009) Semi-finalist, Art for Progress, Clash of the Artists 2009, Visual Arts segment, USA
• (2008) Finalist, Aesthetica Magazine 50th Annual Creative Works: ‘I Am Woman, So Am I’, UK
• (2006) Finalist, International Art contest and online gallery, Modern Art, Online
• (2006) Semi-finalist, Signature of Sydney competition, semi-finalist, Sydney AU

INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCIES, MUSEUM SHOWS AND BIENNALES
• (2012) International Art Prize and Exhibition “Art of the Mind”, Chianciano Art Museum, Tuscany
• (2011) International Artist Residency & Exhibition, Atahotel Varese Italy
• (2009) International Florence Biennale Exhibition, Florence Italy, Dec 2009

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

• (2013) Valentines Group Exhibition, San Valentine Italy
• (2012) International Art Prize and Exhibition “Art of the Mind”, Chianciano Art Museum, Tuscany
• (2012) European Mosaic Exhibition, group show, Montreal
• (2011) International Artist Residency & Exhibition, Atahotel Varese Italy
• (2011) International Showcase Barcelona, Gaudi Casa Battlo, Barcelona Spain
• (2011) ‘On the Edge’ small size art exhibition, Bologna Italy
• (2010) ‘Art in Mind’, Brick Lane Gallery London UK, August
• (2010) ‘Art in Mind’, Brick Lane Gallery London UK, June
• (2009) International Florence Biennale Exhibition, Florence Italy, Dec 2009
• (2009) Agora Gallery, ‘Out From Down Under and Beyond’ Group Exhibition, New York City, USA May 7-27

LOCAL SOLO EXHIBITIONS
• (2013) Sydney Art Show, exhibition showcase, Moore Park
• (2013) Sydney Art Show, exhibition and LIVE ART showcase, Moore Park
• (2012) Sydney Fringe open Studio show, Newtown Sydney
• (2010) May St Studio exhibition “The Art of Flying”, St Peters NSW, September
• (2009) ‘In The Spirit of Light’, Guildford Lane Gallery, Melbourne VIC 24 Sep-11 Oct
• (2009) ‘In the Spirit of Light’, ArtHouse Hotel Sydney Solo Exhibit, NSW 17 Aug-13 Sep
• (2008) ‘Eclectic Abstractions for the Sensual Soul’, featuring 25 works, Global Gallery, Paddington (July 2-13)

LIVE ART

• (2013) Sydney Art Show, exhibition and LIVE ART showcase, Moore Park
• (2013) MOST Marrickville Arts Trail open studio show
• (2012) Sydney Fringe open Studio show, Newtown Sydney
• (2011) International Artist Residency & Exhibition, Atahotel Varese Italy

SELECT LOCAL GROUPS EXHIBITIONS
• (2016) Brisbane Art Prize Finalist Exhibition ‘In Eden, Where Dreams are Born’, QLD, AUS
• (2016) Lethbridge Small Art Prize Finalist Exhibition ‘Flight of the Tui’, AUS
• (2016) Singleton Art Prize Exhibition, Hunter Valley AUS
• (2015) WOOF Exhibition, Art Est Art School Leichhardt
• (2015) Animal Impressions Art Exhibition and Auction, Grand Hyatt Melbourne
• (2013) Sydney Art Show, exhibition and LIVE ART showcase, Moore Park
• (2013) MOST Marrickville Arts Trail open studio show
• (2012) Sydney Fringe open Studio show, Newtown Sydney
• (2012) Painting Group Show, Brunswick St Gallery, Melbourne
• (2011) ‘5th Annual Google Exhibition’ for Sydney Fringe Festival, Hardware Gallery, Enmore NSW
• (2010) ‘Contemporanea’ Florence Biennale Artists Australia group exhibition, Aarwun Gallery Canberra
• (2010) ‘Contemporanea’ Florence Biennale Artists Australia group exhibition, SmartArtz Gallery, Melbourne
• (2010) St Josephs Art exhibition, St Josephs Private School
• (2010) May St Studio group exhibition, St Peters NSW, May
• (2009) Liverpool City Council Art prize exhibition
• (2009) ‘Into the Red’, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Guilford Lane Gallery, Melbourne VIC Sep 23
• (2009) BSG Gallery, Melbourne VIC, ‘Small Works 09’, 23 Jun-2 Jul
• (2009) Art Auction (Gay and Lesbian Switchboard), Guilford Lane Art Gallery, Melbourne VIC
• (2009) RedART Group Exhibtiion, hosted by Reddam House, Woollahra NSW, Mar 11-15
• (2008) ‘Colourful Moments’, Art Moments Gallery Bondi NSW, Sep 08
• (2007) Post Art Sydney exhibition, MLC Powerhouse Gallery, Ultimo NSW
• (2007) ART SYDNEY 07, Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park, Oct 26-28
• (2006) St George Society Group Exhibition, Nov
• (2006) ‘Colourful Moments’ Group exhibition, Art Moment Gallery Bondi, October 06
• (2006) Northbridge Spring festival, TAH Group exhibition, Gallery 307 Northbridge, October
• (2006) ‘Life’s Precious Moments’ group exhibition, Art Moment Gallery Bondi

​ART AUCTIONS AND DONATIONS
• (2013) Keep Talking event,, Artwork donation, raising money for Wildlife Victoria and Edgar’s Mission
• (2012) Apple of Life Artwork donation, raising money for Cancer
• (2011) Varese Childrens’ hospital artwork donation
• (2010) Colour My Life’ Canteen Art Auction Fundraiser (Painting donated, SOLD), Art Gallery NSW, Aug
• (2009) ‘Colour My Life’ Canteen Art Auction Fundraiser (Painting donated, SOLD $5000), Art Gallery NSW, Aug

FEATURES AND PUBLICATIONS
• (2010) Australian Natural Therapies Magazine cover article, Jan issue “Brighten Your Life with colour”
• (2008) “Leni colours her world in vivid form”, St George Leader, Thursday 3 July
• (2008) “Colourful Moments in Bondi”, Bondi View, 3 Sep 2008
• (2008) Australian Art Collector, April-June 2008
• (2008) Art Almanac, May 2008
• (2008) Art Aesthetica 2008, Competition Finalist feature Dec
• (2006) WATIM.com Issue 3, feature interview