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ABOUT

Singapore-born and Sydney-based contemporary landscape painter, James Lai explores abstraction in landscapes.

 

Self-taught, my works are not painted from life, rather they are imagined. Painting in a figurative abstract style, I use a signature palette and gestural brush strokes to express the movements in the land and figurative elements to visually anchor the landscape.

 

My paintings are first and foremost abstract works and secondly, landscapes. The abstract aspects of the work draw the viewer in and allow them the opportunity to interpret what they see, and then I add the figurative elements so the viewer can appreciate the familiar typical elements of a landscape, which enables them to anchor their perspectives on the work.

 

A career highlight includes being a Finalist in the 2023 Sir John Sulman Prize.

Achievements:

2025 Finalist - Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize

2025 Finalist - Georges River Art Prize

2025 Finalist - The Vincent Prize

2024 Finalist - Waverley Woollahra Art School 9x5 Landscape Prize 

2024 Finalist - Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize

2024 Finalist - Blacktown City Art Prize

2023 Finalist - Sir John Sulman Prize

2023 Finalist - Calleen Art Award

2023 Finalist - Hawkesbury Art Prize (Commended)

2023 Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Art Award

2022 Finalist - Calleen Art Award

2022 Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Art Award

2021 Finalist - Northern Beaches Environment Art and Design Prize

2021 Finalist - Lethbridge 20000 Art Award

2021 Finalist - SBS Portrait Prize

2020 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

2019 Finalist - Paddington Art Prize

2019 Finalist - Hornsby Art Prize

2019 Finalist - Blacktown City Art Prize

2019 Finalist - Hawkesbury Art Prize

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Solo exhibitions:

2025 "Of hues and constructed spaces" - Michael Reid Gallery (Murrurundi) NSW

2025 "Terra Sonder" - Scott Livesey Galleries, VIC

2024 "Nature Theatre" - Michael Reid Gallery (Murrurundi) NSW

2024 "Theatre" - Woollahra Gallery, Sydney, NSW

 

Group exhibitions: 

2025 - Winter Salon - Scott Livesey Galleries, VIC

2025 - Autumn Salon - Scott Livesey Galleries, VIC

2024 - Stala Contemporary, WA

2024 - Winter Salon - Scott Livesey Galleries, VIC

2024 - Inverell Gallery, NSW

2023 - Stala Contemporary, WA

2023 - Day Gallery, Blackheath, NSW

2023 - Art Gallery of NSW, Finalist exhibition - Sir John Sulman Prize

2020 - Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin

2020 - Group Landscape exhibition - Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney

2019-2024 - Various national art prize finalist exhibitions

Exhibiting at the following galleries:

Scott Livesey Galleries (Melbourne, Victoria)

Michael Reid Gallery (Murrurundi, New South Wales)

Day Gallery (Blackheath, New South Wales)

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

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© 2025 James Lai

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