Kerryn Levy

Artist Statement
by Kerryn Levy

My work explores the hidden layers of memory, emotion, and environment through abstraction. Whether working in oils, acrylics, or digital media, I’m drawn to the interplay between form and feeling — how a curve, colour, or shadow can stir something unspoken. I often begin with a painted surface, then develop the image digitally or through mixed media, letting each piece evolve intuitively.

Much of my recent work is inspired by natural landscapes and the dreamlike textures of inner worlds. I’m interested in what lies beneath the surface — both visually and metaphorically — and how symbols, marks, and gestures can hold meaning without being literal.

For me, painting is a kind of emotional cartography. It’s how I navigate memory, identity, and the quiet threads that connect us to place and self. I hope my work invites the viewer to pause, reflect, and find their own resonance within the layers.

My work has long explored presence, pattern, and perception—sometimes through contemplative figurative portraits, other times through bold, abstract, or pop-inspired compositions. The Hybrids series brings these threads together. Each piece is a conversation between inner stillness and outer vibrancy, betwee...

Randwick TAFE, Sydney, Australia (1986-1990)
Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, Australia (1990-1993)

Selected Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions
2004 – Artigiano Gallery, Parnell, Auckland
2000 – El Framo Gallery, Ponsonby, Auckland

Group Exhibitions
2006 – Kohia Terrace Primary School, Auckland
2006 – Tamarillo Gallery, Wellington
2005 – Kohia Terrace Primary School, Auckland
2004 – Kings College, Auckland
2004 – Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru
2004 – Remuera Primary School, Auckland
2004 – Auckland Grammar School, Auckland
1998 – Gallery Sixteen, Kumeu, Auckland
1997 – Aotea Centre, Auckland – Fabulous Bureau of Illustrators