Leni Kae is a contemporary artist and illustrator based in Inner West Sydney, Australia and has been a finalist in numerous art prizes. Her popular series “Animal Spirit” is a spiritual, aesthetic and emotional journey captured through colour, flowing patterns, linework, and dripping paint. Each piece is infused with the symbolic attributes of the animal subject and composition. As a bird artist (and wildlife artist) Leni paints the energetic personalities and spiritual nature of animals. Her works explore how they connect with human nature and our emotional journey of growth and healing.
Linework features heavily across her work, extending naturally from her work as an illustrator. Her series “Lines” concentrates on lineart drawings, drawing on minimalist designs primarily in black and white to reinforce a connection with simplicity and an appreciation for the simple joys in life.
Leni Kae’s abstract landscape series "Healing Landscapes" explores a connection to nature and place - the real and the imagined - and how it reflects the emotional healing landscape of the self. In each piece, the intentionally rhythmic patterns of petals/leaf forms stand as a symbol of blossoming growth and renewal; with colour and dripping paint intentionally applied to reflect emotional release and resolution.
The commonality across each of Leni Kae's series, is an underlying desire to reinforce connection; both within the self, as well as with others. Whether it is connection to place, the spirit of an animal, or connection to a colour, there is an inherent message to remember our universal connection through emotion, memories, desire, dream.
In 2020 Leni has been a finalist in the Heysen Prize for Landscape, Mandorla Art Awards, Du Rietz Art Awards, Drummoyne Open Art Prize, ALA Art Prize, (Online Finalist) Lethbridge Small Scale Art Prize. In 2019 Leni Kae was a gallery finalist in the George's River Art Prize, Southern Buoy Portrait Prize, Du Reitz Art Awards, Mornington Peninsula Landscape Prize, Lethbridge 20000 Small Art Prize, Dean Cogle Portrait Prize and Aspire Gallery's Foot Square Art Competition . She was also selected for the 2019 Kennedy Prize Foundation’s Choice. Internationally, she has exhibited across Florence, Barcelona, Montreal, London, New York and more.
FOLLOW LENI KAE on Instagram @LeniKae
Artist website www.lenikae.com.au
