Kels O'Sullivan is a dynamic South Australian artist. Her work is bold and striking whilst simultaneously being delicate and quiet. This duality, combined with a richness and depth of colour, attracts and draws in the viewer. Refractions is her first solo exhibition at Boom and follows her involvement in two successful group exhibitions, Chroma IIin 2025 and Graphic in 2026. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

"A moment is never experienced in isolation; it is refracted through memory, perspective, place and experience, becoming subtly altered and reinterpreted.
 

I am fascinated by the moments of choice that alter the course of what follows - small decisions that create ripples of change extending far beyond their point of origin. Through abstraction, I explore the intersections of memory, experience and environment, where moments accumulate, pathways shift and new possibilities emerge. My practice begins with curiosity and reflection. Through research, reading and observation of the world around me, I investigate the interconnectedness of people, place and time. The shifting qualities of light, shadow and reflection inspire my exploration of how moments are perceived, remembered and reinterpreted.
 

Each painting begins with a carefully structured grid that establishes an underlying framework of order. Within these constraints, hard edges, raised textures and fields of colour are built through repetitive mark-making that intersects, overlaps and folds back upon itself. Colour is created through layered optical interactions, with surfaces influenced by the changing relationships between light, shadow and reflection. Drawing inspiration from built and natural environments, these works explore the tension between structure and movement, order and imperfection. While geometry provides a framework, each mark retains the presence of the artist’s hand, revealing subtle variations that emerge through touch, intuition and repetition. These paintings invite viewers to slow down, look closely and consider how its meaning is shaped through their own perception, personal experience and contemplation."
 

BIO

 
Kels O’Sullivan is an Australian artist based in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, with a foundation in design and illustration and an Honours Degree in Visual Communication (2001). Drawing inspiration from the landscapes and changing light of the Adelaide Hills and beyond, her practice explores the relationship between observation, memory and place. Through geometry, colour, pattern, line and repetition, Kels creates structured compositions that balance order with imperfection. Her work investigates the symbolic interpretations of everyday forms, exploring the connections between experience, environment and the passage of time. Her current body of work examines the interplay of light, shadow and reflection across built and natural landscapes, using abstraction to explore themes of perception, introspection and change. Layered surfaces and geometric structures become visual metaphors for memory, experience and the unseen connections that shape our understanding of the world. Kels has exhibited professionally for over a decade, including three solo exhibitions with Outré Gallery, numerous group exhibitions across South Australia and Victoria, and recent exhibitions at Boom Gallery, Geelong in 2025 and 2026.