About
Hi, I’m Aileen
I’m a contemporary artist based in Melbourne, Australia working across painting, sculptural and digital practices. In my work, I explore themes of time, perception and illusion.
My practice works with geometry to build surreal worlds, drawing inspiration from the bold lines of architecture and the beauty of brutalist forms.
My background in mathematics and physics has largely influenced my work. Over time, these concepts have developed my creative expression, leading to the exploration of a hard-edged style characterised by geometric precision and bold contrasts.
Selected Past Exhibitions
Selected works
Group
Conceal Gallery, Toyko, Japan, 2023
The Greatest Illusion of All
Solo
IRONI Gallery, Osaka, Japan, 2023
正しいか間違っているか
Group
Studio Kura Gallery, Fukuoka, Japan, 2023
In Darkness there is Light
Solo
KordaMentha, Sydney, 2023 (Commission)
LOCALS
Group
Outré Gallery, Melbourne, 2023
Hard Edge
Group
Off the Kerb Gallery, Melbourne, 2022
Shapeshifters
Group
Red Gallery, Melbourne, 2022
Joy Seekers
Group
Off the Kerb Gallery, Melbourne, 2022
LOCALS
Group
Outré Gallery, Melbourne, 2022
Spring Days
Group
Off the Kerb Gallery, Melbourne, 2022
The Darkest Night
Group
Old Bar Gallery, Melbourne, 2021
Relative Dimensions
Solo
Off the Kerb Gallery, Melbourne, 2021
Small Works
Group
Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, 2020
Open Air
Group
Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, 2020
Emerge: Sixth Edition
Group
Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, 2020
Small Works
Group
Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, 2019
Awards
Bluethumb Art Prize 2022
Bluethumb Art Prize 2021
Finalist
Finalist
Media
Code Like a Girl
Grand Designs Australia
The Victorian Writer
Panelist: Don't Feed the AI
Issue: 11.3
Issue: Sept - Nov 2022
My Story
I’ve always been creative, but like many, I have grappled with the pulls of what’s expected of us and everything in between. It has led me to do a range of different things up until now, often straying to what feels like the other end of the creative spectrum.
In saying that, I always come back to art, and I think I’ll be here for a long time.
Thank you for being here and reading my story.
2010
My university days were a pivotal chapter, where I studied engineering and industrial design. My curiosity for the physical world, simplified by formulas I find both poetic and beautiful, which has over time has revealed itself to me in my work.
2019
Not long after working as an engineer I quickly pivoted, it came from a deep yearning for creativity and having it missing from my life. I wanted to be an artist but moved into digital design because I didn’t think there was a way to survive as a ‘starving artist’. I painted on the side of working full time and did my first group show at Brunswick Street Gallery, selling my first-ever exhibited work for $150 to the gallery itself.
2020
Making the most of the 2020, I spent a lot of nights and weekends painting and finding my style. Much of my early work included word art with a heavy influence of David Shrigley, before seeing the Escher exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, reminding me of my love for form and geometric aesthetics, sending my work in a new direction.
2021
I had my first solo show at Off the Kerb Gallery in Fitzroy, Melbourne, selling out on opening night. I had my first international commission and sold my first originals through my Instagram. This gave me the push to quit my day job as a designer to start my own creative business.
2022
I moved into my first art studio, Easey Street Studios in Collingwood. I took on my first big collaboration commission for 12 pieces with KordaMentha. I was stocked at Ours Fitzroy. I learnt how to paint with oils to help push my art and challenge myself. I started a collection of oil paintings, selling works under the alias Alex Watts as a side project.
2023+
I moved to Japan for 4 months to do an artist residency at Studio Kura in Itoshima Japan, which was a life-changing experience. I made my first collection of sculptural works, exhibiting them in my first international group and solo shows. During this time I exhibited across Japan in Itoshima, Osaka and Toyko.
More of my work
