Branch No.1 is off to Australia’s capital city - Canberra. This artwork is now a permanent part of the Parliament House Art Collection (Australia’s Federal Parliament House).
According to @australianwildlifeconservancy Gouldian Finches, featured in this work, were once found across northern Australia in their millions, but now the population has dropped dramatically to an estimated 2,500 mature individuals in the wild.
It is Leila’s hope that seeing these critically endangered beauties up close will inform the decisions of our leaders to help ensure their survival.
Thank you to the Parliament House Art Collection.
‘Branch no. 1’ | 2022 Series: The wound is the place where the light enters | Photograph on archival fibre based cotton rag paper | Standard Size: Edition of 14 + 2APs 110 x 71cm | Large Size & Giant Size editions also available
(Leila is still at Macquarie Island thanks to @anat_australia and
@ausantarctic, having an incredible time so this has been posted by Team LJ )
Leila is currently on the boat to Macquarie Island, so we (LJ studio team!) are keeping you up to date with her news in the meantime.
This is the last week to visit Leila’s exhibition ‘The wound is the place where the light enters’ at @purdyhicksgallery
Leila would like to thank the Purdy Hicks Gallery team, as well as everyone who has visited so far. She is always honoured to exhibit in the UK.
Until Saturday 13th May 2023
Purdy Hicks Gallery
25 Thurloe Street
London SW7 2LQ
T: +44 (0)20 7401 9229
E: contact@purdyhicks.com
Artwork featured ‘Bonsai no. 1’
I am soon to board Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker 'RSV Nuyina' for sub-Antarctica! Too much excitement to bare!
I will be heading to Macquarie Island to study Seabirds and see the incredible work that the scientists and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service @tasmaniaparks do in keeping the island a wildlife haven.
Maquarie Island is very ‘south'. It will take 4 days on the ship from Hobart to get there, 11 days on the island and then 4 days back to Hobart. As ecologist Tim Low said: "The atmosphere there is spectacular. If you look at that latitude right around the globe there is almost nothing else there beside sea, which is one way of appreciating how special it is, that slender slither of cold land.”
The program is run by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) @ausantarctic in association with the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) @anat_australia. Since 1984, Australia has been sending artists to Antarctica and this is the longest running progam of its kind.
My time there will help me complete a hardcover book for UK publisher Thames and Hudson @thamesandhudson and exhibition on Seabirds - a project I started in 2015.
I have huge respect for the people that work for the Australian Antarctic Division, which leads the Australian Antarctic Program and want to learn more about the role they play in helping our fragile ecosystems through research, restoration and rehabilitation of the land. I look forward to sharing their achievements and stories of hope through my work.
No doubt I will have profound experiences which are crucial for any artist and for that I say a huge 'thank you'. The chance to throw my body and mind into this extraordinary world will fuel my creativity and sustain my art for years to come.
Images:
1. Rockhopper penguin - normally found on Macquarie Island, rescued from Lord Howe Island and rehabilitated by the incredible vets at Taronga Zoo @tarongazoo clinic.
2. ‘RSV Nuyina’ - my ship 🚢
3. & 4. Macquarie Island
#Antarctica
#AustralianAntarcticDivision
#ArtsFellowship
#AusAntarctic
#AustralianAntarcticProgram
#Thamesandhudson
#Seabird
#LeilaJeffreysSeabird
**FREE TALK for @vividsydney** As you know, I love birds and I love nature. I also love people who have great wisdom or are able to articulate ideas that are not easily expressed. I have long tried to explain how important I think the natural world is to our own wellbeing.
Two people I admire greatly for this ability to articulate complicated ideas clearly are Tim Low and David Gandelman. @david_gandelman
Tim is an Australian ecologist and author of my favourite book ‘Where song began’. We first met on a birdwatching trip to Christmas Island @christmasisland in 2008 where he taught me how to see the world through a naturalist's eyes and my mind opened up to the magnificent world of ecology. It is on this island that my mind’s eye pictured ‘Jimmy’ the budgie - my first artwork.
David Gandelman is a meditation teacher, and author, from Boulder, Colorado. I started to learn meditation from David in 2018 and just went on a trek with him in Nepal🇳🇵with my family. Our whole family is still buzzing from this experience.
I am so excited to say that with enormous thanks to Vivid @vividsydney - who I worked with last year - all three of us are coming together for one night in Sydney as part of a talk called, you guessed it, ‘What we can learn from Nature’.
It is a free talk on Wednesday 7th June doors at 5pm - 9pm (talk commences at 6.30pm) at The Australian Museum @australianmuseum in Sydney.
Tickets are free, but of course limited, from here: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/what-we-can-learn-from-nature-australian-museum-x-vivid-ideas - the link is in my bio to secure your ticket.
I am very grateful to Vivid and their programme Vivid Ideas @vividideas ‘Immersive Events Series’ and The Australian Museum to fly these two great people to meet me on stage for a special one night panel discussion
I hope to see you there!
Photos:
1. Me in Zealandia, NZ 📸 Simon Davidson @simondavidsonphotographer
2. Tim Low
3. David Gandleman
4. Me in Christmas Island 2008 tagging Seabirds
5. & 6. David and me with my family and new friends 📸 Melinda Richardson @melindaonig
"When an egg breaks from the outside in, whatever is on the inside dies. But when an egg breaks from the inside out, life is born." A metaphor for internal change bringing about a new life.
This beautiful egg belongs to Australia’s Spotted Bowerbird. It is tiny - only about 4 centimetres tall but at human size reveals the stunning beauty of its intricate squiggles pattern.
Bird eggs can vary in colour and shine, they can be covered in sanskrit-like scrawls, blotches, spots and streaks. I can’t help but see them as artists: the colours and patterns are created in the shell gland of the mother bird hours before the egg is laid.
‘The wound is the place where the light enters exhibition’ is on at @purdyhicksgallery
Until – 13th May 2023
Private View is this Tuesday 18th April 6-8pm
Purdy Hicks Gallery
25 Thurloe Street
London SW7 2LQ
T: +44 (0)20 7401 9229
E: contact@purdyhicks.com
Artwork: Spotted Bowerbird Egg
Available in two sizes
Photographed on archival fibre based cotton rag paper
Today is the day! My exhibition opens at @purdyhicksgallery in London. How I wish I could be in two places at once!
The wound is the place where the light enters
6th April – 13th May 2023
Please note, the new date for the Private View is 18th April 6-8pm
(please contact the gallery for details)
Purdy Hicks Gallery
25 Thurloe Street
London SW7 2LQ
T: +44 (0)20 7401 9229
E: contact@purdyhicks.com
Artwork featured is Burnt Branch (partially shown across both images)
Message to all London friends - my exhibition opens this coming Thursday!
LONDON EXHIBITION -
PURDY HICKS GALLERY
@purdyhicksgallery
The wound is the place where the light enters
6th April – 13th May 2023
This will be my fourth solo exhibition at Purdy Hicks Gallery, and selected artworks will be shown at @photolondonfair this year.
Private Viewing Thursday 13th April 6-8pm
(for details please contact the gallery)
Purdy Hicks Gallery
25 Thurloe Street
London SW7 2LQ
T: +44 (0)20 7401 9229
E: contact@purdyhicks.com
Artwork featured ‘Cut-throat’
Message to all London friends - my exhibition is on its way!
LONDON EXHIBITION -
PURDY HICKS GALLERY
@purdyhicksgallery
The wound is the place where the light enters
6th April – 13th May 2023
This will be my fourth solo exhibition at Purdy Hicks Gallery, and selected artworks will be shown at @photolondonfair this year.
Private Viewing Thursday 13th April 6-8pm
(for details please contact the gallery)
Purdy Hicks Gallery
25 Thurloe Street
London SW7 2LQ
T: +44 (0)20 7401 9229
E: contact@purdyhicks.com
Artwork featured Bonsai No.3
This is ‘Topper’, a wonderfully inquisitive Burrowing Owl (they live in burrows not nests) native to the open landscapes of north and south America. Just 25cm tall and only 150 grams they are supremely adorable. Topper was in care with the @ojairaptorcenter in northern California, USA where I was fortunate to spend time with the birds in care, witness staff and volunteers work tirelessly to save them (they take in up to an astonishing 1,500 birds a year) and experience the incredible landscape where they live in Joshua Tree National Park.
@ojairaptorcenter do so much good for the world, it’s heartening to know that every-day people do extraordinary things. They rely on donations from the public if you are ever in a position to help. I think the second image means the most to me as it shows the lengths kind and smart people go to rehabilitate these birds. They must disguise their human existence - eyes, smell, contact to make sure these birds stay wild - AND, that is a taxidermy owl which they use to pretend to be the parent. Humanity at its best.
Photos - 1. Topper (limited edition artwork) 2. Ojai Raptor Center 3. Joshua Tree 4. Joshua Tree 5. Kym Stoud (founder), Forrest the great horned-owl and me at the front door.
📷 1. Portrait of ‘Topper’ Burrowing Owl by me 2. by @ojairaptorcenter 3. to 5. by @simondavidsonphotographer
@black_cockatoo_crisis film premiere is this Saturday at 2pm in Sydney at the Ritz Cinemas, Randwick. Tickets still available so please join me.
I will be there, @featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary will be there and the film maker Jane will be there.
The documentary features cockatoos from Western Australia’s @kaarakin rescue centre - the most incredible cockatoo rescue centre.
This is a video of me working with their beautiful birds. They rely on donations from the public so if you are ever looking for an amazing place to help fund, this organisation is the real deal.
Link to tickets in my bio.
‘Black Cockatoo Crisis’
For National tour dates go to @black_cockatoo_crisis and see links in their bio for all information.
Sydney Premiere
Saturday 11th February
2pm
$25 a ticket
Thank you to the incredible @poppystockell who made the documentary ‘Bird Nerd - the art of Leila Jeffreys’ and kindly let me use this footage.
Hello - I am writing to you to help promote a powerful Australian documentary that is touring nationally. I will be at the Sydney premiere and would love to see you there. Link to buy tickets is in my bio.
The documentary is called ‘Black Cockatoo Crisis’. I know you share my love of these beautiful birds but they need our help.
This film focuses on Western Australia, but of course the message applies to any habitat. In short, humans keep making birds’ lives hard by cutting down their homes (trees) and from road injuries and so on.
Jane Hammond is an extraordinary film maker who provides a clear message about the plight of these birds and what we can do to help them. She has given voice to the people you never hear from - from the custodians of the land, wildlife carers, forest activists, everyday people and ultimately the birds.
She features @kaarakin - the most wonderful black cockatoo rescue centre. I have worked there and can not speak more highly of an incredible organisation that relies on donations.
Her film is touring country towns where communities are coming together and finding ways to help the birds.
These screenings are bringing together people who through their shared love are building the most beautiful giant snowball of change.
If you are in Australia you can support her, the birds and the people that care by attending screenings. Location and times at @black_cockatoo_crisis
If you are in Sydney please come with me to see the film at The Ritz in Randwick - Saturday the 11th of February at 2pm. I would love to talk to you.
Jane will be there to answer any questions as well as some glorious black cockatoos from @featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary
This film has come at the right time. Jane has been brave enough to face the hardships of these birds and you can ask Jane all the good things that have happened since the documentary has been released. But first we must look at the problem and this film does that brilliantly.
Link to tickets in my bio
‘Black Cockatoo Crisis’
For National tour dates go to @black_cockatoo_crisis and follow their link in bio
Sydney Premiere
Saturday 11th February
2pm
$25
Happy New Year to all!
As the cogs slowly start to turn again I thought I would let you know that my gallery in Sydney - the Olsen Gallery @olsen_gallery - currently has a group exhibition called ‘Summer Salon’ showcasing the work of many of the artists in their stable. It’s a lovely way to see the breadth of work from all different practices. I have two works from my latest exhibition - The wound is the place where the light enters - hanging in the show. The exhibition runs until the end of February.
I hope you are all having a good start to the year.
There is something wonderful about the timing of the Christmas build-up and shortly after the feeling of a re-set, the beginning of a brand new year.
I hope you all spend time with the ones you love, and remember the ones we have lost. I hope that you find a moment to enjoy nature be it in the oceans, tundra, grasslands, deserts, mountains or forests.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Love Leila x
Artwork: Branch No. 1 (Gouldian finches)
Series: The wound is the place where the light enters
Year: 2022
Size: Variable
Inkjet print on archival cotton rag
Know anyone in Brussels?
Hangar Photo Art Centre is a gallery devoted to photography in Brussels and my work is currently on exhibition there alongside the work of wonderful photographers. The exhibition closes on the 17th of December.
In 2020 French publisher Atelier AXB @atelier_exb released a book of my photographs called Des Oiseaux (which means ‘birds’) and which is still available. My book was part of a series of 12 books on birds by selected photographers.
The series of books has now turned into this group art exhibition and I am so honoured to be a part of it.
The exhibition details are: @hangar.photoartcenter
Date: until the 17th of December
Location: Place du Châtelain 18 Kasteleinplein, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
The Tweets - last edition! 91cm x 72cm. Signed and limited edition photographic artwork. (Swipe to see artwork).
It’s a mixed feeling when an artwork is about to sell out as it is obviously a good thing but a bit sad it’s soon to be no longer available.
A recent favourite is The Tweets from my High Society series which features on an Australia Post stamp @auspostcollectables What an honour! But yes, the very last edition of The Tweets is available and then it’s gone for good. Please use my website for enquiries - there is a contact page - rather than instagram.
Thank you and farewell The Tweets!
Swipe to see artwork The Tweets in NYC (not the stamp) with the beautiful and kind @brookeshields - a very happy memory of that show.
Silent Auction Alert - help raise funds for conservation of species via Sydney’s iconic Taronga @tarongazoo [link in bio for silent auction]
This beautiful Emerald dove was photographed there as part of my Ornithurae exhibition and I am so happy to donate a limited edition artwork (framed) (112cm x 89cm) for their big annual charity fundraiser called ‘Zoofari 2022’. The bidding closes in 5 days (before November 19th). Funds are used for conservation of species.
Link in bio (above) or type in this link >>> app.galabid.com/zoofari
It is in the Silent Auction section.
Taronga do so much genuine conservation work, the people there care deeply. Please support if you can.
#zoofari2022 #leilajeffreys #conservation #emeralddove #dovesandpigeons #taronga #sydney #auction #silentauction #birdsofinstagram #photographicartwork #contemporaryart #dovesofinstagram
Thank you to everyone who came to see my exhibition. To Sydney-siders that carved out precious time to visit and the wonderful people I met from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, the Blue Mountains and the countryside, and to all those I didn’t get to meet but appreciate your support so much.
I noticed that in the eyes of everyone I met was a deep love and reverence for nature.
I would also like to thank the wildlife carer couple that travelled from the South Coast to make the opening while nursing a sleepy baby wombat and baby swamp wallaby (both called joeys). I’ll post photos. It’s those moments of connection and care that reminds me how much kindness exists in the world.
Thank you also to Simon Hewson from @fatografi_insta for filming, photographing and making this clip. He is so talented.
Some heartbreaking news from Australia’s art world. Nicholas Harding was an extraordinary artist and a beautiful man who has died far too young from cancer. He was phenomenally talented, a finalist 19 times in the Archibald Portrait Prize - he won it in 2001. He won all the major painting and drawing awards in Australia, most recently the 2022 Wynne Prize @artgalleryofnsw
He was so kind. When I was an emerging artist he welcomed me into the artists' world; I always felt so supported whenever Nicholas was around and was proud to know him. I had a beautiful day sitting for him in his studio for an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery @nationalportraitgallery which focused on animals and humans together. I brought Smokey the rescued Galah with me and a bag of lego to keep her entertained. She was remarkably well behaved that day and the three of us had a wonderful day discussing all aspects of life. It’s a memory I treasure greatly.
I could tell that Nicholas and his wife Lynne are true lovebirds, always supporting each other and so I am so sad for Nicholas, Lynne, their son Sam and for all of Nicholas’s many friends and family who I know are grieving. I send all my love to them.
Some photos of Nicholas - with Smokey and the portrait he painted of me with Smokey the Galah, and examples of his phenomenal work. X
Last day today (Saturday) to see ‘Temple’ installed at Olsen Gallery @olsen_gallery in Sydney, Australia as part of my exhibition ‘The wound is the place where the light enters’.
I’ll be in the gallery around 1pm today.
’Temple’ is a 4K, three-screen video and installation artwork. Made in collaboration with @mj_montalban and originally exhibited as part of @vividsydney featuring rescued birds from @featheredfriendsbirdsanctuary The work involved so many talented people, a special mention to cinematographer @chrisbryanfilms and the moving original score written by @jacksonmicomilas
![Silent Auction Alert - help raise funds for conservation of species via Sydney’s iconic Taronga @tarongazoo [link in bio for silent auction]
This beautiful Emerald dove was photographed there as part of my Ornithurae exhibition and I am so ha](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a73a8f9914e6bc5ec94ad98/1668394557493-AHVW5YHWOES6A3NKSYMR/image-asset.jpeg)
