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Leon Fernandes is a Sydney-based visual artist working across painting, textiles, and digital composition. His work explores beauty, grief, absurdity, and repair—often grounded in personal narrative, historical imagery, and botanical metaphor. He works in layers, both literal and symbolic, drawing from a mixed Anglo-Australian and Indian heritage.

 

Before turning his focus fully to art, Leon spent several decades in social justice and health advocacy, working within his own tribes: queer communities, people who use drugs, and mental health survivors. He has also worked extensively in theatre restoration, specialising in historical conservation at Sydney’s State Theatre.

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His work has been commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, exhibited in both galleries and public spaces, and shown in settings ranging from museums to festivals. His practice is playful, political, and deeply personal.

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He is driven primarily by a love of paint—but also by curiosity, irreverence, and the ongoing (often futile) process of making sense of the world.

Solo Exhibitions ​
  • 2024: Finding Light in Shadows: Vincent's Irises Reimagined. Downing Centre, Sydney.

  • 2023: Pride. ESD Gallery, Sydney.

  • 2022: Curious Odysseys. Downing Centre, Sydney

  • 2022: Major works. ESD Gallery, Sydney

  • 2019: Bunnings: the Embroideries. ESD Gallery, Sydney

  • 2018: Spring Awakening. MLC Gallery, Sydney

  • 2017: Krishna in Erskineville. ESD Gallery, Sydney  

  • 2015: Threaded Skulls and Tsunamis. ESD Gallery, Sydney

  • 2015: Paintings and Embroideries. Scratch Art Space, Sydney

  • 2014: The Spring Show. ESD Gallery, Sydney

  • 2009: Paintings. Arthouse Gallery, Sydney

  • 2009: Paintings. Berkelouw Cafe Gallery, Sydney

  • 2008: Paintings. Blankspace, Sydney

 

​​Group Exhibitions
  • 2023: Art of Darkness. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney

  • 2022: Beyond the Bell Curve. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney: 

  • 2021: Locked Down. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney

  • 2021: Landscapes. Joint exhibition with April White. ESD Gallery, Sydney

  • 2019: Birds and the Bees: Joint exhibition with April White. MLC Gallery, Sydney

  • 2019: Newtopia: 6 local artists. MLC Gallery, Sydney

  • 2018: Hindu Deities. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney

  • 2017: Primavera. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney

  • 2017: New works. Cafe Tissardmine. Rissani. Saharan Morocco.

  • 2016: Vignettes from the Heart. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney

  • 2016: bentART. School of Arts, Wentworth Falls

  • 2015: Grief and Loss. Lennox St Open Studios, Sydney: 

  • 2015: Happy Hour: dedicated to Johnny Merkouris. Gaffa Gallery  

  • 2015: bentART. School of Arts, Wentworth Falls

  • 2014: Slow Hands. Gaffa Gallery, Sydney

  • 2014: bentART. School of Arts, Wentworth Falls

  • 2009: Buzz. Global Gallery, Sydney

 

Public Commissions
  • 2023: Progress Shark mural. Museum of Sydney.

  • 2022: The Girl in the Tree. National Gallery of Victoria: Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse

 
Residencies
  • 2017: Café Tissardmine, Sahara Desert, Morocco (4 weeks)

  • 2016: Brahma Tirta Sari: batik residency, Jogjakarta, Indonesia (2 weeks) ​​

 

Awards
  • 2021: Finalist: Gosford Art Prize

  • 2021: Highly Commended: BentArt. School of Arts, Wentworth Falls.

  • 2021: Finalist: The Blake Prize, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

  • 2016: Winner: Special Category “Celebration” bentART, Wentworth Falls

  • 2014: Winner: Special Category “Celebration” bentART, Wentworth Falls

  • 2008: Winner: Avant Carde Artist Project competition

 

Publications

Race, K. The Gay Science: Intimate Experiments with the Problem of HIV (2018): “Krishna in Erskineville” (essay)

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© Leon Fernandes 2025. All rights reserved. Built with paint, thread, and an overworked nervous system.

Leon Fernandes
Visual artist working on Gadigal land (Sydney) and Bundjalung Country (Northern NSW).Painter, textile-tinkerer, accidental archivist of emotional debris.

Instagram @leonfernandes.art

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