Leith O'Malley is a South Australian contemporary visual artist who works mainly in the medium of oil on large canvas.

His paintings often exhibit a fondness for figurative expression and revel in blurring the line between fine art and illustration.

Leith has studied under renowned Australian artist and film maker George Gittoes, who has won the prestigious Blake and Wynne Prize for visual art and has also held the position of official Australian War Artist.

Since then he has continued to exhibit in various group and solo exhibitions and created the promotional artwork for not only the Adelaide and Newcastle Jazz Festivals but also the first “Rio-Havana-New York” Jazz & Latin Festival held in Moscow in late 2004 along with the Saratoga Jazz Festival (New York) during 2007 which featured prominent musicians George Benson, India Arie, David Sanborn, Al Green, John Scofield and many more..

Leith is represented by The Francis Keevill Gallery of Double Bay Sydney, but also exhibits in Melbourne and Adelaide galleries.

When describing his work for exhibition Leith says “I guess I could best describe the new works as introspective.. more about looking inward.. a celebration of creating art in isolation to some degree and my continuing love affair with both the joy and burden of that infatuation”.

Leith O’Malley currently exhibits his work in the following galleries:

Sydney - Francis Keevill Gallery (www.franceskeevilart.com.au)

Melbourne - Smart Artz Galley (www.smartartzgallery.com.au)

Adelaide - Artistic License Gallery (www.artisticlicense.com.auu)

Adelaide - Chesser Gallery (www.chessergallery.com)

Artist’s Statement

I like to think of my work as simply honest and original in its intent, with a fondness for line and figurative expression. For me, creating art has always been about self expression and truth…about producing something relevant and introspective… looking inward.. a celebration of creating art in isolation to some degree, and my continuing love affair with both the joy and burden of that infatuation. I have always received tremendous satisfaction from the act of drawing or watching something materialise on a sheet of paper in front of me. There is something special about this act which draws me back time and time again.

As lyrical as it may seem, I’m simply trying to articulate and express myself through metaphors of colour, tone and surface texture using a sort of subtext of paint, brushstrokes, collage and mark making. I guess that like a musician, creating art can somehow transport you to another world, and for my own part this has become a very addictive but rewarding ritual.

I’m curious about where this will lead.

View more of Leith O’Malleys work at www.leithomalley.com