A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face. A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each oth… — shown in a room setting A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face. A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face. A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other fa… — artist's signature A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to fac… — edge view A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face. — detail A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to… — shown hanging
Sold
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face.
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each oth… — shown in a room setting
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face.
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face.
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other fa… — artist's signature
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to fac… — edge view
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to face. — detail
A girl in a long decorative dress, kneels in front of a pig with a golden crown. They eye each other face to… — shown hanging
Painting by Leah Mariani 144 Artworks Sold

Circe

Mixed Media, Canvas, Framed by Artist

94cm (W) x 59cm (H) x 6cm (D)

Certificate of Authenticity Included
A$1,200

Artwork Description

Circe is a Greek goddess, most often portrayed as a femme-fatale. However here she is depicted as an innocent, vulnerable young woman. The golden halo around Circe’s head is reminiscent of Roman religious painting and seeks to highlight her divine status in contrast to her more common association with witches. Her foe, Odysseus, is shown as a swine, which emphasizes his carnal form and changes the power dynamic of the story.
The textured layers have been created using discarded domestic textiles, such as dollies and tablecloths, through the screen-printing process. These materials provide a link to the past and the supportive role women have traditionally played in society.

Artist Bio
Photo of Leah Mariani
Leah Mariani 242 artworks | 94 Sold

I'm a Melbourne artist making art about people, identity and relationships. I draw on my experience as a woman and a mother, and as a result, most of my work is about womanhood. I am a passionate advocate of women’s issues and gender equality.

I have an interest in patterns and lines and include them in nearly all my work. My attraction to patterns comes from my love of order (I'm also an accountant), but I mostly like the flat, decorative element it adds. Sometimes the material inspires the subject, but more often than not, I seek out a particular look, colour or pattern to go with the concept I have in mind. Including patterns is a way of adding another dimension to the work.

In 2020, I won the Unearthed Prize by Art to Art gallery in Balwyn. I've been exhibiting since 2012, when I held my first solo show. Prizes for which I have been shortlisted include the 2025 Omnia Prize, 2019 Footscray Art Prize, the 2018 Contemporary Art Prize, the 2016 Hornsby Prize, the 2016 She competition, the Lethbridge 10000 Small-Scale Art Prize, the 2013 Agendo Award and the 2011 Metro Award.  Early in my career, I won the 2013 Yen magazine Female Artist award and won 2 prizes at the Albert Park College Art Show. My artwork is in private collections worldwide and is part of the Standard Chartered Bank art collection, Albert Park College public collection, and the Image Mundi project.