JAMES LAI

James Lai is a contemporary landscape painter based in Sydney, Australia. In the works, there is a focus on the shapes and colours he sees in the landscape. 

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The works are about seeing the landscape as theatre and the characterisation of the natural elements in the landscape draws out the movement and drama. A naïve and inventive art style is employed to give the natural elements character and they narrate the unique story of the land.

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Achievements:

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Finalist - Waverley Woollahra Art School 9x5 Landscape Prize (2024)

Finalist - Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize (2024)

Finalist - Blacktown City Art Prize (2024)

Finalist - Sir John Sulman Prize (2023)

Finalist - Calleen Art Award 2023

Finalist (Commended) - Hawkesbury Art Prize (2023)

Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Art Award (2023)

Finalist - Calleen Art Award (2022)

Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Art Award (2022)

Finalist - Northern Beaches Environment Art and Design Prize (2021)

Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Art Award (2021)

Finalist - SBS Portrait Prize (2021)

Finalist - Paddington Art Prize (2020)

Finalist - Gosford Art Prize (2020)

Finalist - Greenway Art Prize (2020)

Finalist - Little Things Art Prize (2020)

Finalist - SBS Landscape Prize (2020)

Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award (2020)

Finalist - The Alice Prize (2020)

Finalist - Paddington Art Prize (2019)

Finalist - Hornsby Art Prize (2019)

Finalist - Blacktown City Art Prize (2019)

Finalist - Hawkesbury Art Prize (2019)

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Exhibitions:

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Group exhibition (Stala Contemporary, Perth) 2024

Solo exhibition (Michael Reid Gallery - Murrurundi, NSW) 2024

Group exhibition (Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne, VIC) 2024

Solo exhibition (Woollahra Gallery, Sydney, NSW) 2024

Group exhibition (Inverell Gallery, Inverell, NSW) 2024

Group exhibition (Stala Contemporary, Perth) 2023

Group exhibition (Day Gallery, Blackheath NSW) 2023

Finalist exhibition (Art Gallery of NSW) 2023

Group exhibition (Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin) 2020

Group exhibition (Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney) 2020

Various national art prize finalist exhibitions 2019-2024

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James' works are shown in the following galleries:

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Scott Livesey Galleries (Melbourne, Victoria)

Michael Reid Gallery (Murrurundi, Sydney, New South Wales)

Day Gallery (Blackheath, New South Wales)

Lauriston Press Gallery (Kyneton, Victoria)

Satch and Co Gallery (Holbrook, New South Wales)

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His works are held in private collections in Australia, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, Italy and Singapore.

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