About
Carolin's (b. 1984, Boston) love for art emerged in childhood, inspired as much by the golden age illustrators and classical animation as she was by ancient art and the old masters. At the same time, she was penning her mythical world, The Islands of Niljora, that has become the rich narrative and symbolism behind her work.
Carolin graduated with honours from The Savannah College of Art & Design with a full time scholarship, and studied classical art in her hometown of Boston and Italy. She began her professional career in her ancestral home of New Zealand, where she was a finalist for The Adam Portrait Award and chosen for a national tour with The New Zealand Portrait Gallery. Her illustrated books were purchased for the permanent heritage collections of New Zealand's National Libraries. Ever inspired by world culture and her life experiences, she travelled onwards.
Her works have been published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, The International A.R.C. Salon Catalogue and have showcased in galleries in The United States, New Zealand and Europe.
Photograph by A. Smailovic
Artist Statement
"I see my works as artefacts of my mythos, The Islands of Niljora.
This is the way I have explored the world we live in since I was a child, expressed in paintings, drawings and written stories. Parts myth, adventure and spiritual journey, The Islands of Niljora has evolved into a symbolic reflection on our universal human story. My work explores themes of light vs. dark, good vs. evil, hope and cautionary tales. They possess stories of heroes and deity-like observers, passing their quiet gazes over the patterns of the human world. My work weaves into a lifelong fascination with nature, the mystical and the mythological."
• • •
"From madness and nothingness came the creature Niljora."
Carolin Leary Prinn is a Fantastical Fine Artist, Painter, Illustrator & Author - art-of-carolin-prinn, symbolic art, surreal art, esoteric art, fantasy art, mystical art, spiritual art, beautiful bizarre artist directory, International ARC Salon, Adam Portraiture Award, Florence Academy of Art, Savannah College of Art and Design, new contemporary artist, fantasy artist
Education
B.F.A. with Honours, Savannah College of Art & Design, U.S.A.
Classical Training, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy, 2019-2021
Workshop, Per Olav Olsen & Melissa Franklin Sanchez, Florence Academy of Art, Italy, 2017
White Cloud Workshops, Paul Tobin (WETA), New Zealand, 2008
Graduate courses in concept art (S.C.A.D.), Workshops (The Museum School & MassArt, Boston)
Group Exhibitions
2025 Upcoming June: "Enchanted Fables", Curio Art Gallery (Portugal)
2025 "Art of Lore", Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID (U.S.A.)
2024 "P.S. 9th Annual Postcard Show", Nucleus House, Portland, OR (U.S.A.)
2024 "Enigmatic World of Owls", Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID (U.S.A.)
2024 "The Portrait Show 12: Myth", Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA (U.S.A.)
2023 The Frankfurt Book Fair (Germany)
2020 Student Exhibition Online, The Florence Academy of Art (Italy)
2019 The Parkin Drawing Prize, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington (New Zealand)
2018 The Parkin Drawing Prize, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington (New Zealand)
2017 The Adam Portraiture Award Exhibition, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Wellington (New Zealand)
2014-2016 The Adam Portraiture Award National Tour, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery (New Zealand)
2015 The New Zealand Art Show, TSB Arena, Wellington (New Zealand)
2015 "Art4Vanuatu", Bartley + Company Art, Wellington (New Zealand)
2015 "Exhibit One", 2 Eva Street, Wellington (New Zealand)
Solo Exhibitions
2016 "Worlds", Deluxe, Wellington (New Zealand)
2014 "Entrance To The Secret Worlds", Deluxe, Wellington (New Zealand)
2013 "The Primordials", Deluxe, Wellington (New Zealand)
2002 Honourable Mention, The National Scholastic Art Award (U.S.A.)
Also in:
Isle Sur La Sorgue (France); Rue Tromphime (France); Berlin (Germany); Keri Keri (New Zealand), Savannah, GA (U.S.A.)
Press
Issue 45, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
Beautiful Bizarre.net Blog Article
The 14th International A.R.C. Salon Catalogue
Dir. Mette Skougaard, Denmark Museum of National History, Artist Talk, N.Z.P.G.
ZHIZHY, Artist Feature, Wellington, New Zealand
RadioActive FM, Artist Interview, New Zealand
Honours
"The Polaris Collection" of The Lunar Codex, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, 2024
"The Polaris Collection" of The Lunar Codex, 17th International A.R.C. Salon, 2024
Scholarship, The Florence Academy of Art, 2021
Finalist, The 14th International A.R.C. Salon, 2019
Finalist, The Parkin Drawing Prize, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, 2019
Finalist, The Parkin Drawing Prize, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, 2018
Finalist, The Adam Portrait Award, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, 2016
Finalist, The Adam Portrait Award, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, 2014
The Adam Portrait Award National Tour, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, 2014
Painting Residence, The Savannah College of Art & Design, Lacoste, France, 2010
Dean's List, Savannah College of Art & Design, U.S.A., 2007 - 2010
Artistic Honours Scholarship, Savannah College of Art & Design, 2007 - 2010
Offered Scholarship from San Francisco Academy of Art, 2006
Honourable Mention, The National Scholastic Art Award, U.S.A, 2002
Galleries/Stockists
Poetic Tiger Gallery - Artwork
Harvard Book Store
Books
2021 The Spirit of Shadows, A Collection of Tales from The Islands of Niljora, Carolin Leary Prinn
2015 The Primordials & Tales from The Islands of Niljora, Carolin Leary Prinn
