Kathleen Rhee

Reef Waters ocean abstract expressionist painting deep blue aqua white

2023

Kathleen Rhee Australian Contemporary Artist Born in Brisbane, Australia With a passion for working on large-scale abstract paintings. Kathleen has a deep connection to mother nature and can only explain her practice as a need to paint everyday. Rhee’s personal style has an atmospheric, powerful, mesmerising touch that she achieves by using subtle colour, detailed textures and depth. “I work in acrylic, experimenting on different surfaces of canvas. I need to have certain elements and details in my work, sometimes this more, sometimes less depending on my mood. I like these elements to have balance, contrast and opposition. I start with colour combinations, and look for smooth seamlessness, thick textures, spatter, colour merging and always the energy and feeling of the work is what is most important to me. I am a very quiet, sensitive person, so that is what I reflect in my work, along with happiness and joy that all human deserve. I grew up a very simple life on the Australian coastal hinterland, only ever wanting to draw and paint, always day dreaming for sure. I am not sure why but I defiantly have alway had this ingrain obsession with large scale abstract art. Its only in the last few years my studio could accomodate painting large works. I want my paintings to be larger than life, all consuming, give off vibrant energy psychically and also have the ability to take you away mentally. Kathleen's studies in Australia include art history, drawing and painting at Brisbane Institute of Art and Portrait & Figure Painting at ANU Art School Canberra. She studied at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City where she lived for four years before moving home to Australia where she now resides with her husband and children.