Lei Cui (Carlos) is a Melbourne-based illustrator and visual artist. After moving from Malaysia to Australia in 2009, he worked in graphic design for nearly a decade. Having admired realism since childhood, he returned to study illustration at Melbourne Polytechnic, completing his Bachelor's degree in 2022.
During his studies, he developed a deep interest in conceptual art, particularly color psychology in hyperrealism. His work is characterized by organic brushstrokes and unique textures, evoking a nostalgic, dreamlike state through carefully chosen color palettes. Influenced by Chinese contemporary artist Leng Jun and Vincent van Gogh, Carlos continuously experiments with various mediums in his pursuit of hyperrealistic perfection.
For Carlos, emotional expression is paramount in his art, with colors, mediums, and techniques serving as complementary tools in his creative process. He harmoniously captures the connection between subject and viewer through his hypnotic brushwork, creating distinctive textures, depth, and highlights. His delicate rendering techniques and emotive color choices help bridge the gap between artwork and audience.