About Reena Naidu
Sydney-based artist Reena Naidu was born in Fiji and is of Indian heritage.
She completed her Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts at the National Art School and has participated in numerous artistic projects and group exhibitions across Australia and internationally.
Reena's work is deeply inspired by the natural world, culture, and history, often depicting landscapes that express mood and explore themes of time, place, and movement. Her subjects range from landscapes, seascapes, and portraits to cultural pattern art.
Primarily using watercolour and ink, Reena has a particular focus on the sea. Her recent works are intricate, intuitive, and process-driven drawings using archival ink on linen canvas. Her paintings combine ink, watercolour, and acrylic paint. Reena incorporates unique materials from the Pacific Islands, such as Masi (bark paper), sourced from Fiji to support local communities. Her cultural pattern art is influenced by oceanic art, reflecting her heritage and the rich traditions of the region.
Reena has exhibited in several group exhibitions, including the 2015 Robin Gibson Gallery New Talent Exhibition, and was a finalist in the 2016 Clyde and Co Art Awards, the 2017 9x5 Landscape Prize, the 2018 Paul Guest Prize, the 2020 John Villiers Outback Prize, and the 2022 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Prize (JADA). Her works are held in private collections throughout Australia.
ARTIST RESUME
Education
2018 Master of Fine Arts, National Art School, Darlinghurst NSW
2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts, National Art School, Darlinghurst NSW
Solo Exhibitions
2017 "Time is Never Still', M2 Gallery, Sydney
2016 'Serenity', Folonomo Gallery, Sydney
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 - 2024 - JADA Exhibition Tour, Grafton Regional Gallery, Sydney
2023 Liverpool Hospital Exhibition, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney
2022 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award Exhibition, Grafton Regional Gallery, Sydney
2022 12th International Art Competition, Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, USA
2020 - 2022 Liverpool & Bankstown Hospital Exhibition, Sydney
2020 John Villiers Outback Art Prize, Outback Regional Gallery, Winton QLD
2019 Grand Opening, Art T Gallery, Sydney
2018 Paul Guest Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria
2018 In the Quiet, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney
2017 9 x 5 Prize, Waverley Woollahrah Arts School, Sydney
2017 NAS Postgraduate Exhibition, National Art school, Sydney
2016 Co-Lab Art Exhibition, Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2016 Mid-Drift, National Art School, Sydney
2016 New Talent Recent Graduates & Small World / Small Wonders, Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney
2016 Clyde & Company Community Art Project, Clyde & Co, Sydney
2015 The Grid & Graduate Exhibition, National Art School, Sydney
Awards
2022 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award Finalist, Grafton Regional Gallery, Sydney
2022 12th International Art Competition Finalist, Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, USA
2020 John Villiers Outback Prize Finalist, Outback Regional Gallery, Winton QLD
2019 Art Olympia International Art Comp, Honorable Mention General Category, Tokyo Japan
2018 Paul Guest Prize Finalist, Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria
2017 9 x 5 Landscape Prize Finalist, Waverley Woollahra Arts School, Sydney
2016 Clyde & Co Art Awards Finalist, Sydney
2015 Robin Gibson Gallery New Talent Exhibition, National Art School, Sydney