High Society | Leila Jeffreys Exhibition Reception: November 15, 6–8pm Exhibition: November 13, 2019 – January 19, 2020
“High Society is the result of more than five years of planning and commitment; a pledge to making the impossible possible. It began when I noticed how a flock of native Australian budgerigars look like leaves on a tree. Looking closer I saw individuals, couples, and families – a secret High Society.” - Leila Jeffreys
Olsen Gruin is pleased to present High Society, an exhibition of new works by Australian photographic artist, Leila Jeffreys. Her second solo exhibition since 2017, High Society will be on view at Olsen Gruin from November 13, 2019 until January 19, 2020. Revisiting the world of the Budgerigar – the subject of her first solo exhibition some nine years ago – Leila Jeffreys’ High Society includes her signature large format portraits and sees her exploring new territory. Working with over 300 budgerigars in a studio High Society reveals a beautiful society of birds through still photography and three panel video art. Acclaimed for her empathetic artistic vision and intuitive approach, Leila Jeffreys has again captured a vivid sense of personality in her feathered subjects. Each work forges an emotional and sympathetic bond with the audience as Leila Jeffreys establishes parallels between the ‘flock’ and our human concept of ‘community’; a commentary on our need to preserve wildlife societies and their homes. “There exists a symbolic relationship between birds and trees,” says Leila Jeffreys. “Their survival depends on each other. We depend on them. High Society serves as a visual reminder to leave wild places for these other societies to enjoy, as well as our own.”
Leila Jeffreys (b. 1972) was born in Papua New Guinea and raised in Perth, Australia. Thanks to her adventurous parents she spent much of her childhood travelling and grew up surrounded by wildlife and forest both in Australia and abroad. This sparked her interest in the natural world. Jeffreys works with conservationists, ornithologists and bird sanctuaries to separate her charismatic subjects from their natural surroundings and photograph them with a high degree of technical skill. She is an exhibiting artist with gallery representation in Sydney, London and New York. Her work has also been featured in the iconic Bergdorf Goodman department store windows in New York City. Her book Birdland was launched at Australia’s National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. A documentary titled Bird Nerd: the Art of Leila Jeffreys will debut on the film festival circuit mid-2019 ahead of its television premiere on the ABC later this year. The film is written and directed by Walkley Award winner Poppy Stockell and was commissioned by ABC Arts.
For further information please contact the gallery at info@olsengruin.com or at +1.646.525.6213. All images are subject to copyright. Gallery approval must be granted prior to reproduction.
Leila Jeffreys, High Society, 2019
Leila Jeffreys River and Cloudy, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 36" x 28" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $2,100 Framed: $2,800 57176
Leila Jeffreys The Tweets, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 36" x 28" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $2,100 Framed: $2,800 57238
Leila Jeffreys Bluey and Liquorice, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 36" x 28" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $2,100 Framed: $2,800 57207
Leila Jeffreys Coral 2, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 36" x 28" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $2,100 Framed: $2,800 57330
Leila Jeffreys Buckbeak, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 36" x 28" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $2,100 Framed: $2,800 56377
Leila Jeffreys Pineapple, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 36" x 28" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $2,100 Framed: $2,800 57269
Leila Jeffreys Rain and June, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 35" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $3,100 Framed: $4,000 55" x 44" Edition of 5 + 2 AP Unframed: $4,400 Framed: $5,600 56090
Leila Jeffreys Coral, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 35" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $3,100 Framed: $4,000 55" x 44" Edition of 5 + 2 AP Unframed: $4,400 Framed: $5,600 56265
Leila Jeffreys Celery, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 35" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $3,100 Framed: $4,000 56209
Leila Jeffreys Frosty, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 35" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $3,100 Framed: $4,000 56321
Leila Jeffreys Candle, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 35" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $3,100 Framed: $4,000 56433
Leila Jeffreys Ocean, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 35" Edition of 30 + 2 AP (11-20 available) Unframed: $3,100 Framed: $4,000 57080
Leila Jeffreys Blue Blossoms, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 54" Edition of 8 + 2 AP Unframed: $6,000 Framed: $7,200 61" x 75" Edition of 6 + 2 AP Unframed: $8,000 Framed: $10,200 56188
Leila Jeffreys Autumn Leaves, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 54" Edition of 8 + 2 AP Unframed: $6,000 Framed: $7,200 61" x 75" Edition of 6 + 2 AP Unframed: $8,000 Framed: $10,200 56146
Leila Jeffreys Gum Leaves, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 44" x 54" Edition of 8 + 2 AP Unframed: $6,000 Framed: $7,200 61" x 75" Edition of 6 + 2 AP Unframed: $8,000 Framed: $10,200 56167
Leila Jeffreys Blue Blossoms 2, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 55" x 44" Edition of 8 + 2 AP Unframed: $6,000 Framed: $7,200 75" x 59" Edition of 6 + 2 AP Unframed: $8,000 Framed: $10,200 56069
Leila Jeffreys Charcoal and Ash, 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 45" x 44" Edition of 8 + 2 AP Unframed: $6,000 Framed: $7,000 61" x 60" Edition of 6 + 2 AP Unframed: $8,000 Framed: $10,200 57477
Leila Jeffreys Revival , 2019 Photographic print on fibre based cotton rag 45" x 44" Edition of 8 + 2 AP Unframed: $6,000 Framed: $7,000 61" x 60" Edition of 6 + 2 AP Unframed: $8,000 Framed: $10,200 57496
LEILA JEFFREYS CV SOLO EXHIBITIONS: 2019 High Society, Olsen Gruin, New York City, USA 2019 High Society, Olsen Gallery, Woollahra, Australia 2018 Ornithurae, Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, UK 2018 Linda Fargo’s Shop, Bergdorf Goodman, New York City, USA 2018 Garden Party Loft Exhibition, Bergdorf Goodman, New York City, USA 2017-18 Muse, Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia 2017 Ornithurae, Olsen Gruin Gallery, New York 2017 Australians in Film Black Tie Dinner, Los Angeles, USA 2017 Private Exhibition, Los Angeles, USA 2016 Bird Love, Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, United Kingdom 2015 Birdland Book Launch, National Portrait Gallery, Sydney, Australia Birdland Book Launch, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney, Australia Wild, Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, United Kingdom 2014 Prey, Olsen Irwin, Sydney Biloela - Wild Cockatoos, Purdy Hicks Gallery, London 2012 Biloela - Wild Cockatoos, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney 2011 Portrait of a Budgerigar, Jonathan Adler, Soho, New York City Portrait of a Budgerigar, Jonathan Adler, Sloane Ave, London 2010 Portrait of a Budgerigar, Iain Dawson Gallery, Sydney GROUP EXHIBITIONS: 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2018 2018 2018 2017 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015
Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Carriageworks, Sydney, Australia Creatures, Olsen Gruin Gallery, New York, NY, USA Wild Thing, Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Australia Ravenswood Art Prize (Highly Commended), Ravenswood School For Girls, Sydney, Australia Antumbra, Olsen Gallery Sydney, Australia Watermill Benefit, Time Bomb, NY, USA Photo London, London, UK 2 x 2, Olsen Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney, Australia Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Carriageworks, Sydney, Australia Birds – Flight Paths, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, VIC, Australia London Art Fair, London, UK Artist Open House, Fremantle, WA Australia Pulse Contemporary Art Fair, Miami, Florida, USA Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK Transfer, Australian Centre For Photography, Sydney, Australia A Summer Group Exhibition, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney, Australia Summer Group Exhibition, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Melbourne, Australia Feathered, Touchstones Rochdale, UK Gallery Artist Group Show, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2014 2013
2012 2011
2010
Important Works on Paper and Sculpture, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney, Australia Australian & International Contemporary Photography, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney, Australia Melbourne Art Fair, Olsen Irwin, Melbourne Works on Paper Christmas Show, The Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong CCP Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Olsen Irwin, Sydney On a Wing and a Prayer, Mars Gallery, Melbourne Wild Australia, Gallery Reis, Orchard Road, Singapore Melbourne Art Fair, Carlton Pavilion Summer Collection Studio at the B, Ally’s Beach, Florida Wattle, Contemporary Australian Art, The Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong Summer Feast, Iain Dawson Gallery, Sydney Head On Photo Festival, Iain Dawson Gallery, Sydney
COLLECTIONS: Artbank, Sydney Macquarie Bank, Sydney 21C Museum Hotels, USA Museum of Photography, Seoul, South Korea BOOK TITLES AND AWARDS: 2015
2015 2013
Birdland (Hachette Australia) Shortlisted for Australian Book Design Awards ‘Best Designed Fully Illustrated’ award, Highly Commended in Photobook Melbourne’s ‘Australian Photobook of the Year’, 2016. Bird Love (Abrams USA, UK) Winner of an ‘Award for Excellence’ at the 57th Communication Arts Photography Annual, 2016. Interview With A Cockatoo (or Two) (Independent) Winner of the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for the 2013 Head On Moment Photobook Awards.
BIOGRAPHY: Leila Jeffreys is one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists. She is represented in Sydney by the Olsen Gallery, in New York by the Olsen Gruin Gallery and in London by the Purdy Hicks Gallery. Leila Jeffreys’ work is inspired by nature. She began documenting birds by way of photographic portraiture in 2008, working alongside conservationists, ornithologists and bird sanctuaries. Her works are difficult to achieve; they involve travel, long periods of waiting on her subjects, and many hours in post-production. Through her own patience, Leila is able to separate these wonderful creatures from their natural surroundings and photograph them with the highest degree of technical skill. “(Leila’s) images are simultaneously serious and witty, gentle and impactful; technically, they are quite miraculous. Her rapport with her subjects, her technical ingenuity, her eye for colour, form and composition and her expertise in the processes of fine art photography combine to create singular works that have often – alas – been imitated but have never come close to being equalled.” Dr Sarah Engledow, Historian and Curator - National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Leila has exhibited four major bodies of work. The first in 2010 featured budgerigars (‘Portrait of a Budgerigar’), followed in 2012 by cockatoos (‘Bioela Wild Cockatoo’), 2014 bird of prey (‘Prey’) and 2017 featured cockatoos, doves and pigeons as well as budgerigars in trees and her first video art (‘Ornithurae’). In addition to her solo exhibitions, Leila Jeffreys has exhibited her work in public art displays at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo and the iconic Bergdorf Goodman department stores in New York City. In 2018 she was invited to attend and include her work in the prestigious Time Bomb - the 25th Annual Watermill Benefit in South Hampton NY which included performances from and works by international artists and was curated by Noah Khoshbin and Ivan Cheng. After self-publishing her award-winning book Interview With A Cockatoo (or Two) in 2012, Leila Jeffreys went on to publish hardcover books of her works: Birdland through Hatchette in Australia & New Zealand and the same work under the title Bird Love through Abrams Books in North America and the United Kingdom. In Australia the book was shortlisted in the Fully Illustrated category of the 2016 Australian Book Designers Association Awards and was Highly Commended in Photobook Melbourne’s Australian Photobook of the Year category for 2016. In the US, Bird Love received an Award of Excellence in the Photography Books category of the 57 th Communication Arts Photography Annual. The book was launched at Australia’s National Portrait Gallery in Canberra with an introduction by Dr Sarah Engledow, Historian and Curator. Included in the broad list of titles that have profiled Leila and her artworks are publications such as The Guardian, The Financial Times and The Times (UK), Zeit Wissen, Die Ziet and Das Kunstmagazin (Germany), Colossal, Wall Street Magazine and The Sunday Times (US) as well as The Weekend Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue Living, Vogue, Australian Geographic, Belle, Harpers Bazaar, Elle Decoration, The Design Files, Yellowtrace and the fine art quarterly and monthly publications such as Portrait in Australia, Art Alamanac and Art Edit. 2019 saw Leila undertake her first expedition to the Arctic Circle with Poseidon Expeditions at the invitation of British historian and explorer Dr Huw Lewis-Jones. While in the field, Leila experienced firsthand one of the most untouched parts of the world and also one of the most vulnerable, where nature still dominates. Such opportunities to travel and experience wildlife in their natural habitat fuel both her creativity and her sense of urgency to protect it. Leila Jeffreys has also accepted an invitation from the Harewood House Trust UK to be a visiting Artist in Residence in early 2020. While there, Leila will work with the inhabitants of the revered Harewood House Bird Garden to create an exhibition of new work in celebration of the garden’s fiftieth anniversary. In October and November 2019 Leila Jeffreys will present a new solo exhibition called High Society in both Sydney and New York. The exhibition signifies a significant progression for Leila with the inclusion of a three-panel video art piece as well as a series of photographic works featuring flocks of birds. Leila Jeffreys’ artworks can be found in private collections both nationally and internationally. She lives in Sydney with her family.