About

I’m Lee Wilde, a visual artist, poet, and curator based in Sydney, Australia. Since beginning my practice online in 2003, I’ve placed more than 1,400 original drawings and paintings into private and corporate collections worldwide.

My work centers on emotionally resonant charcoal portraits—quiet studies in stillness, identity, and memory. Each piece is hand-drawn with attention to nuance, gesture, and the spaces between, reflecting my commitment to emotional realism within contemporary figurative art.

My Studio

My studio is my sanctuary—a place of exploration and excavation. It’s where I engage with the richness, strength, and complexity of women, the central theme in my work. I’m drawn to vibrant color, dynamic movement, and layered textures, and I continually experiment with materials and techniques to keep my process alive and evolving.

Every piece I create is deeply personal, a reflection of lived experience, emotional depth, and poetic impulse. My studio is not just a workspace; it’s a site of visual storytelling and radical freedom.

Artistic Foundations

I was born into a world of quiet observation, attuned to gesture, expression, and the emotional undercurrents that ripple beneath the surface. From a young age, I was drawn to faces, to the way light reveals vulnerability, and to the stories etched into skin and posture.

Growing up in West Bengal, I encountered my first muse on a Carbonell oil tin kept on a kitchen shelf. That feminine, iconic image sparked a lifelong love of art and remains a symbol of longing and early seeing.

I didn’t follow a traditional art school path. Instead, I carved my own, guided by solitude, intuition, and a hunger for authenticity.

Influences & Process

My work is shaped by artists who treat figuration as a vessel for psychological and mythic inquiry. I resonate with the emotional intensity of Marlene Dumas, the raw physicality of Jenny Saville, the symbolic layering of Jono Dry, and the poetic realism of Michael Armitage.

I work primarily in graphite and charcoal, materials that offer intimacy and emotional depth. Their tonal range allows me to explore subtle shifts in texture and gesture. I also incorporate ink, pastel, and collage when a piece calls for expansion or disruption.

My process is tactile and intuitive. I often begin with a poetic fragment or emotional impulse, allowing the image to emerge through layering, erasure, and revision. Each surface becomes a dialogue between material, memory, and myth.

Collecting My Work

As a self-representing artist, I manage every aspect of my practice—from creation to publishing. I believe in transparency, authenticity, and collector trust. My pricing ladder welcomes emerging collectors while honoring the value of original work.

Alongside originals, I offer limited edition prints and commissions, each handled with care and intention. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector, my goal is to provide art that resonates and enriches your environment.