Kelly Southee
ARTIST
ARTIST
"After first coming across Kelly’s work at her exhibition, ‘Home is where the art is’, I commissioned Kelly to paint a portrait of my childhood home for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Kelly visited the house where my parents still live, and suggested painting both the eclectic interior and charming exterior of their home. We couldn’t have been happier with the result. Kelly’s technical skill perfectly captured the textures, light and shade of the house (as well as the family dog), but she also managed to convey the emotion and feeling of the home. Thank you, Kelly, for creating such a meaningful and beautiful gift."
K. Henry, 2021
Private Commission to capture the family home in two mini-artworks
"Hanging in our lounge room in New Zealand is a slice of my Brisbane life and family history. Kelly used individual flair to create 'art with a heart', both a skilful representation and an evocative keepsake. Thank you!"
​
L. Fitzsimmons, Nelson, New Zealand
August 2015
Private Commission
"I first viewed Kelly's artworks over a year ago and was immediately transfixed by her use of colour and unique compositions of a familiar subject matter - heritage housing and the 'Queenslander' in particular. Since first meeting Kelly and viewing her art, I have purchased three works from her and have since become an avid fan. I believe she is highly talented in depicting the beauty of our suburbs and has a real skill in capturing the essence of living in Brisbane, with its lush environment and vibrant colour."
​
B. Dymock, June 2016.
Artwork purchased during Our Places exhibition
"Colourful, atmospheric and yet, concise. Historic and captures a moment in time. That describes Kelly's artwork. We have always enjoyed Australian art, and had wanted to start on a collection specifically related to Brisbane and/or Queensland. With one of us loving plants and the other enjoying buildings, the streetscapes that Kelly did was the perfect start of this collection as they had both. Each piece and subject has a story to tell, and we were taken by Kelly's story-telling that accompanied each art work. Her different media usage (pastel in Princhester Street Beauties and oil in St Lucia Surf) showed her versatility. And her landscape (A Jolly View) is just as ethereal as her streetscapes."
​
Kit Ching + Kim Huat, Brisbane, Australia. 16 May 2016.
Artworks purchased during Our Places exhibition July 2015
and The Skies that Bind Us Exhibition November 2015
"Kelly's beautiful oil and pastel paintings capture Brisbane's changing landscape and honour the beautiful old houses and streetscapes we pass by everyday but possibly never notice. At Kelly's last exhibition, my husband was thrilled and amazed to discover two works that he had a strong personal connection with. One was of a house he used to live in back in his student days, and the other, which now hangs on our wall, is of a building we currently own. Kelly's lovely paintings are a snapshot in time, capturing by accident a part of our lives and also the dynamic landscape of our suburb."
​
S. Bennett, West End. 2016. Painting purchased during
The Skies that Bind Us Exhibition November 2015.
"This college has commissioned works by Kelly including the original monastery of the College. This was used as our cover for the Centenary Calendar in 2016. Her works have been auctioned as part of the College's fund-raising efforts.
In 2015 the College commissioned several smaller pastels of a house in Stephens Road which has great historical significance. These excellent pieces were presented as gifts early in 2016.
I commend to you the work of artist Kelly Southee."
​
Mr Ian McDonald. Principal. St Laurence's College. June 2016
“In 2015, I commissioned Kelly to take my photograph of a wind catcher blowing in the breeze in Canada and turn it into an original artwork. Kelly was able to take the essence of the photo and create something truly magical and a beautiful reminder of my years in Canada. She used soft pastels on archival quality card, and the result is a picture full of energy and life. She is an amazing talent.”
​
J. Danielson, East Brisbane.
October 2015. Private Commission.
“I had wanted to capture my house in paint for some time when I found out that Kelly was an artist. I commissioned Kelly to paint my house, as I couldn’t think of anyone more fitting to capture the true essence of my house than someone who had lived in the very same house. Thank you Kelly for painting our beautiful Queenslander and capturing its leafy surroundings and shadows perfectly.”
​
J. Comerford. Brisbane. September 2015.
Private Commission.
“I commissioned Kelly to paint a picture of my house and she captured it perfectly. She even included my dogs. Everyone comments how fantastic it is when they see it.”
​
Y. Porter, Indooroopilly, Brisbane 2013. Private Commission
“I have had the pleasure of watching Kelly produce an amazing, varied portfolio of work over the years and fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of some such works. Because we move around the country a lot, I wanted to capture the places that have become special to our family. I commissioned Kelly to capture a favourite family area with my children playing and it has become a central piece of art in our family room as we move from home to home … She captured the essence of the the moment so beautifully and the kids just love being reminded of places they have been. Thanks Kelly”
​
B. Borghouts. Canberra. A.C.T. Australia.
Private Commission. 2011
Thank you so much for the time and effort taken in capturing so perfectly my son Aidan and daughter-in-law Jala’s little country house for their wedding gift from us. I love your talent for capturing the beauty in your paintings with people’s homes”
J. Fisher, Brisbane. Private Commission.
October 2016