biography

Chris Kandis was born in 1966. He began to seriously consider making a living from painting when he was in his teens. His skill and interest grew from there. From the age of 14 he studied informally with Leonard Long OAM. Chris received generous guidance, support and a great deal of encouragement and inspiration from Leonard. Perhaps it is because these formative painting sessions were spent in the bush that Chris feels so at home in the Australian landscape.

After leaving school he studied art at Swinburne and RMIT. In 1988 he travelled to Europe to work and study, and returned to commence his professional career. He has been awarded numerous prizes, including the Mount View Award in 1987, the Mornington Rotary Club Award in 1990, Best Painting Award at Bayswater Rotary Club in 1993 and 2004, a Highly Commended at Camberwell Rotary in 1999 and 2003, Club Award at Camberwell Rotary in 2005, St Kevin’s Prize in 2008, Mt Waverley Art Show First Prize in 2009, Bronze Medal at Camberwell Rotary 2010, and many others.

In 2004 Chris was invited to exhibit alongside the late Pro Hart in Sydney and in 2006 was part of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games promotion in Toronto, Canada.

Chris Kandis is represented in many corporate and private collections, including Qantas, Merrill Lynch, ABN Amro, Sumitomo Metals in Japan, GlaxoSmithKline, Englehart Homes, Pipers Brook Vineyard in Tasmania, Austrade in Canada, Daimaru Collection; Pacific Dunlop; Singapore Airlines (private commission); Camberwell City Council; Commonwealth Bank, Brisbane; NSW Sports Club, Sydney; and many private collections in Australia, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Greece and USA.

Chris has explored many subjects and varies his technique and style accordingly. His philosophy is to look at the ordinary with a less than ordinary viewpoint, as have done scores of artists over the centuries.

Boldness and design are seen in his paintings, highlighted by energetic brush and palette knife work with texture, colour and expression. Subtle mood and atmosphere are his interests. He says, “Paintings should be attractive, or at least have an element of beauty to them.”

Since Chris’s first exhibition at Kew Gallery at age 21 his work has appreciated and developed, to be recognised by collectors and galleries in Australia and overseas.