Biography

Now residing in Lennox Head, South African born artist, Leonard Collins is known for his unique style of expressionistic surreal art which is an amalgamation of expressionism and surrealism, interpreting social events and general observations of everyday life.

At the age of 5, Len was recognised on his very first day of school for his drawing and painting ability which ignited his lifelong passion for art. He began drawing before he had any formal lessons, using pencil and crayons on meat and breadwrapping paper or whatever medium was available. During his early years, Len was fortunate enough to attend schools that employed dedicated and qualified art teachers, always excelling and winning art prizes which helped him to consolidate his love of art.

During the 60’s and 70’s, he studied to be an art teacher and teaching art was his main passion, working at various jobs to sustain himself. He became a professional artist and painted full time for 5 years. During this time, had 5-6 exhibitions, all in South Africa and all in galleries affiliated with Universities or Art Schools.

Over the years and thankfully due to a successful business career, Len has developed his own style, away from the need to comply with art’s commercial trends. He remained within the Surreal/Expressionistic style which he found to be totally unique and suited to his quest for conveying social commentary via painting. His paintings created a deal of interest, with African art critics often calling his art “interesting, fascinating though sometimes overtly primitive” as it was hard for them to marry Expressionism with Surrealism, which best describes Len’s style.

“Many artists influence my work, including the great Dali for his line work and Van Gogh for his bold brush strokes. Mondrian was also a big influencer for my style of painting.Mondrian taught me how to use colour to create a musical rhythm for greater visual effect. My larger canvases particularly relating to large people have some genesis in Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. But other than that, my style is my own.” Len explains.  

In his art, Len showcases parts or all of the human body creating a commentary on social change, using graphic distortion and sometimes, bizarre imagination to enhance the shock effect and attract the viewers’ attention – which frequently brings a negative reaction in the viewer. In particular, Len’s “The girl in the red burqa” series is strongly focused on the ideological domination of women in the world today and is strongly confronting.

“I’m passionate about life and passionate about people that are passionate. I don’t paint things, I paint ideas, observations, events and perceptions which should provoke reaction and thought and start a cerebral conversation inside the viewers head. Art should always be provocative and never sterile, decorative or boring.”  

His paintings are mostly oils, with some mixed media and acrylics and are painted on either canvas, board or paper. He relies on symbolism and has many intellectual layers which provoke thought - he prefers to be enigmatic and encourages the viewer to create their own individual impression of the painting.

There is a much international interest in Len’s art, from art galleries and museums in Europe, particularly Paris and New Orleans and this website aims to bring Len’s collections to the world.