Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — shown in a room setting Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — artist's signature Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — edge view Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — detail Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — shown hanging
Sold
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling.
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — shown in a room setting
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling.
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling.
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — artist's signature
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — edge view
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — detail
Woman with long golden hair staring at the sky through a circular hole in the ceiling. — shown hanging
Painting by Leah Mariani 144 Artworks Sold

Danae

Mixed Media, Canvas, Ready to hang

61cm (W) x 91cm (H) x 3cm (D)

Certificate of Authenticity Included
A$1,000

Artwork Description

Leah Mariani is a painter who transforms traditional fictional and mythological characters into feminist icons using decorative arts patterning. Inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Danaë, this figurative painting brings together two timeless figures—Danaë and Rapunzel. Danaë was imprisoned in a windowless tower until Zeus descended to her in the form of golden rain, paralleling the later tale of Rapunzel, another young woman isolated in a tower. This evocative piece captures both stories’ themes of love and fate, inviting viewers to explore the strength and beauty of these timeless heroines.

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.