Menu
Elysha Rei is a Japanese-Australian visual artist whose work draws upon her mixed heritage and lived experiences between cultures and communities. Works in paper cutting, public art and murals are created from personal and historical archives which embed narrative and symbolism within a Japanese design aesthetic.
“I found my purpose as an artist is to preserve this part of my family’s heritage through the use of Japanese design aesthetics in my work, which provides a constant source of inspiration.”
Elysha Rei (1986) is a Japanese-Australian visual artist whose work draws upon her mixed heritage and lived experiences between cultures and communities. Works in paper cutting, public art and murals are created from personal and historical archives which embed narrative and symbolism within a Japanese design aesthetic.
As a grandchild of a Japanese War Bride, Rei’s affinity to Japanese culture stems from the need to preserve her maternal heritage and connect with her Samurai and Tea Master ancestry. Drawn to Japanese design principles and elements in nature, Rei’s works feature strong patterns and motifs that stem from research into records, scientific research and commemorating points in history.
With a desire to continually challenge her practice, artist residencies and personal travel inform an important element to her continued creative development. Since completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2008, Rei has created and exhibited work, curated exhibitions and managed cultural spaces across Australia, Japan, New Zealand Thailand and the US.
Undertow, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Furusato: Patterns from Pilgrimage, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD, Australia
Sugaropolis, CQUniversity Wall, Mackay Art Space, QLD, Australia
Nanakorobi Yaoki, Craft Vitrine Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Nanakorobi Yaoki, No. 12 Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Nanakorobi Yaoki, Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
Crafted Contemplations, Museum of Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Onespace Onsite: REI + WERNER, joint exhibition with Benjamin Werner, Onespace Gallery, QLD, Australia
The King’s Confidant, Ivory Street Gallery, Artisan, Brisbane QLD, Australia
Drawing out the best in me, Use Space, Bangkok, Thailand
Internal Reflections, Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin NT
Repetition Suspicion, Gympie Regional Gallery, QLD Australia
Past Portraiture: an exploration of ancestral affiliation, Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery, QLD, Australia
Construction of Life: a marriage of land and water, ArtBox Toowoomba, QLD Australia
Perverse Patterns, Dogwood Crossing, Miles QLD, Australia
Construction of Life: a marriage of land and water, Branch 3D, Sydney, Australia
If you’re idle, find an idol – LACE, made. Creative Space Toowoomba, QLD Australia
Destruction Creation, made. Creative Space Toowoomba, QLD Australia
Folding Freedom, Attic Art Space Toowoomba, QLD Australia
Artspace Mackay QLD Australia
AILA Landscape Architecture Award for Urban Design – Winner in QLD for Milton Urban Common project featuring sandblasted pavement designs for Brisbane City Council
Touring Exhibition
Queensland Regional Art Awards Finalist – for Flying Arts
Workshop facilitator in paper cutting and professional arts development for clients in local government, galleries, museums and arts organizations
OpenArtExchange is an independent international art gallery that aims to stimulate and connect promising contemporary visual artists from non-Western countries (particularly Africa, South America and Asia) with the western world of arts and culture.
© 2020 All rights reserved | VAT NL858728539B01 | CoC 71471367 | Member of NGA