
Photo taken by Luke O’Donnell
Justin Lees is visual artist, graphic designer and photographer based in Newcastle, Australia.
Justin is visual artist based in the coastal town of Newcastle, Australia. Justin has been drawing for as long as he can remember, After earning his tertiary qualifications in Graphic Design and Photography (2009) Justin set out on new endeavours finally coming full circle and returning to his roots and rekindling his love of painting, photography and design into a full-fledged professional career as an abstract, expressionist painter.
Justin’s work is big, bright, vivid, very gestural with a lot of motion and layers, reminiscent of abstract expressionism and gestural abstraction periods from New York. With broad brush strokes of colour, along with the quickness and free flowing nature of finer strokes that are almost signature like in appearance, the artworks seem to take on a life of their own. Justin draws on a lot of feelings, emotions and memories to dictate the palate and allowing the energy of sound to inspire his work and to guide his movements. A controlled mess, if you will.
Justin has had a number of solo and joint exhibitions at independent galleries in Newcastle throughout the late 2000’s and after a small hiatus from painting contributed to group shows as well as donating significant works towards charitable causes such HMRI and the Mark Hughes Foundation. In 2019, Justin was asked by the Hunter Medical Research Institute to be the 2019 resident artist, creating an original work to be auctioned off, raising over $7000. In June 2020, during a global pandemic, Justin had a near sold out solo show, “As We All Play Parts Of Tomorrow” at Blackstone Gallery in Newcastle, as well as being commissioned by multiple collectors to produce works. Justin was also commissioned by The Pink Frangipani Ball committee to create an original work, which is intended to be auctioned or sold, to further support HPCA and Pro-care Mental Health Services.
In 2021 Justin showcased at The Other Art Fair in Sydney in March, as well as produced two solo shows held at independent galleries in Newcastle, Onwards Studios and Blackstone Gallery.
Justin’s work exists in private collections throughout Australia, New Zealand, England and Europe.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 I Spent The Better Part Of A Decade Not Knowing Myself – Blackstone Gallery, Newcastle
2021 I See Shades Of Green Near The Cliff – Onwards Gallery, April
2020 As We All Play Parts Of Tomorrow – Blackstone Gallery, Newcastle, June
2007 Lovemetal – Sushi & Cigarettes Art Space, Newcastle, April
2006 Haggard – Volume Art Space, Newcastle, September
2005 Bang Bang – Volume Art Space, Newcastle, August
2004 Heartagram – Volume Art Space, Newcastle, August
RESIDENCIES & NOTABLE COMISSIONS
2020 Frangipani Ball, Newcastle
2019 HMRI Artist in Resident, Newcastle
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 Hide & Seek, Newcastle Art Space – Newcastle
2021 At The End You’ll Find The Shadow And Light – The Other Art Fair – Sydney
2020 These Narrow Heads, Mitch Revs Makers Creators Gallery – Newcastle
2020 IGN, Blackstone Gallery – Newcastle
2020 Emerging Artists, Newcastle Art Space – Newcastle
2019 Emerging Artists, Newcastle Art Space – Newcastle
2019 Divergent Interpretations, C Studio Gallery – Newcastle
2018 Abstracted Group Show, Gallery 139 – Newcastle
2017 Directors Choice Show, Gallery 139 – Newcastle
2016 Emerging Artists, Newcastle Art Space – Newcastle
2016 Abstracted +, Gallery 139 – Newcastle
2016 Emerging Artists, Newcastle Art Space – Newcastle
2015 Double Wrap, Gallery 139 – Newcastle
2008 Choose Yer Poison, Sushi & Cigarettes Art Space – Newcastle
AWARDS
2020 Newcastle Emerging Artist (Finalist)
2019 Newcastle Emerging Artist (Finalist)
2017 Newcastle Emerging Artist (Finalist)
2016 Newcastle Emerging Artist (Finalist)
MEDIA
2021 Artist Close Up
2020 Art Edit Magazine
2020 Newcastle Herald
2020 Newcastle Live
2020 Newcastle Herald
2019 NBN
2019 HunterHunter