Biography | Artwork

 

 

Bio

Kareena Zerefos is an emerging artist currently based in Sydney, Australia. Her work evokes a delicate balance between isolation and companionship, as well as yearning and delight in long lost moments of escape to the whimsical world of make believe. With a background in design, graduating from College of Fine Arts in 2005, Kareena works using a variety of media, including pencil, gouache, tea and ink, and often combines traditional drawing with contemporary digital graphic techniques. Kareena has exhibited in solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as in numerous group shows across Australia. She also works on commercial illustration projects for the music, fashion and advertising industries. 
 

Artist Statement 

My work is inspired mostly by the nostalgic things I have hoarded along the way; a collection of old super-8 footage from my dad’s childhood in rural New South Wales, vintage postcards and photos, children’s books and delicate fine bone china tea sets.  

From these I piece together my own sometimes-shadowy little worlds in a delicate and bittersweet illustrative style. I like to explore the themes of escapism and isolation in a place created of dreams and memories, which is inhabited by all kinds of curious creatures, often taken from my favourite stories and fairytales, and children lost in their imagination. 
 
CV

Education 

University Of New South Wales [2002-2005]

College Of Fine Arts | Design School B.Des

Major: Graphics Media 

University Of Alberta, Canada [2004]

School Of Art & Design | Visual Communication

Majors: Graphic Design and Printmaking 
 
 
 
 

Exhibitions 

2009

Footprints, MCA Sydney

New Eyes Open, Ambush Gallery Waterloo

Curvy, Mori Gallery Sydney

12x12, Ambush Gallery Waterloo

12x12, No Vacancy Melbourne

Revolution of Art, Retrospect Gallery Byron Bay

In Full Bloom, 580 George Sydney

Frankie Hand Drawn, Nine Lives Gallery Fortitude Valley

The Weekend Australian Art Sydney, Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park

Day of the Dead, Retrospect Gallery Byron

United Galleries Hip Pop, Saatchi & Saatchi The Rocks

Once Upon, Ambush Gallery Waterlo

Small, Retrospect Gallery Byron 

2008

GRRRLs, Ambush Gallery Waterloo

cause we can, Somedays Gallery Surry Hills

Curvy, Mori Gallery Sydney

Kids Today, MTV gallery East Sydney

Curvy, The Outpost & Blonde Venus Brisbane

Curvy, Schwipe Don’t Come Gallery Melbourne

Solo show, MTV gallery East Sydney

Where Mighty Giants Dwell, Retrospect Galleries Byron

Sideways, MTV gallery East Sydney

Extra Cheeese, Medium Rare Gallery Redfern

Cream Coloured Ponies, Paddington

Solo show, Famous When Dead Gallery West Melbourne 

2007

Curvy, Mori Gallery Sydney

Extra Cheese, Gallery Forty Four Surry Hills

Across the Board, Wallspace Gallery Surry Hills 

Professional Development 

2009

Presentation, Art & Design students at MLC school

Travel – Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, UK

Student Mentor 

2008

Curation, ‘Cream Coloured Ponies’ exhibition

Presentation, Famous When Dead Gallery Melbourne

Solo exhibitions in Sydney & Melbourne 
 

Selected Bibliography 

2009

Curvy 6

ElleGirl Korea

Small Magazine

Semi permanent

Yen Magazine

Cleo Magazine 

2008

Curvy 5

Semi permanent

First Magazine

Empty Magazine

Yen Magazine

Financial Review

The Sun Herald

Nine to Five

Frankie

M, Sunday Age

Brag

Real Living 

2007

Curvy 4

Semi permanent

Yen

Frankie 

2006

Back to Old School

Curvy 3

Semi permanent 
 

Selected Commercial Client Listing 

Host

Levity

Shibui

Switzer

Hurley

Bob Evans  
Mentally Friendly

Billabong 
Merivale  
Sparkadia 
KMS California 
Emillie  
Element Eden  
Sewn 
The John Steel Singers 
French Kitty  
The Finders Keepers  
Advice to Sink in Slowly 
Mambo 
Eleven Music  
Talk Media  
Clemenger BBDO  
2Threads

Von Zipper 
Cav Con 
Ivy League Records  
Natalie McComas Photography  
ZeroG  
EMI

Wiltshire & Dimas