Contemporary Australian Artist
“I paint with my heart, to express my thoughts, to rejoice in sadness.”
Born in Shanghai, China, Li Lee-Archer discovered her passion for artistic expression at an early age. She studied watercolour painting under artist Christopher Wu before pursuing a Fine Arts degree and qualifications in Fashion Design at the University of Shanghai.
After moving to Australia, Li established a successful career in fashion design, yet her passion for painting remained a constant presence in her life. A transformative journey through Europe, where she immersed herself in the landscapes, museums and masterpieces of the great European artists, reignited her desire to paint. In 2012, she returned to painting professionally, beginning a deeply personal chapter of artistic exploration.
Figurative painting lies at the heart of Li's artistic practice, with the female form serving as a central subject through which she explores emotion, identity, vulnerability and inner strength. Rather than focusing on conventional ideals of beauty, her work seeks to reveal the complexity and quiet power of the human spirit.
While figurative art remains her primary focus, Li embraces the freedom to explore landscapes and other subjects. Regardless of the subject matter, her paintings are united by an intuitive and deeply personal approach, guided by emotion, imagination and her ever-evolving artistic journey.
Through her distinctive visual language, Li seeks to express emotions that words cannot always capture. For her, painting is both an act of self-discovery and a way of connecting with others. Each canvas becomes a space where emotion, personal experience and imagination meet.
Li's artworks have received numerous awards and are held in private collections throughout Victoria, across Australia and internationally.