CAROLIN LEARY PRINN
The Islands of Niljora
Figurative Artist & Author




About The Artist
Carolin Leary Prinn (b. Boston, 1984) has been inspired by myth, cultural tale and history from a very young age, stirring the creation of her mythical world, The Islands of Niljora, a world that frames her creations. With a love of symbolism she forms her imagery and stories – evoking realms of an ornate, mystical and otherworldly nature. Her work traverses fantastical illustration and realism, inspired by the Golden Age illustrators, classical animation, ancient art, and masters of The Renaissance and 19th century.
Carolin has been the recipient of multiple scholarships and accolades since childhood. Following an influential painting residency through her university, she began her career as an illustrator and portrait artist in her ancestral home of New Zealand and found quick success. Her work has been a finalist in The A.R.C. Salon, The Adam Portrait Award, and chosen for national tour with The New Zealand Portrait Gallery. As an author and illustrator, she has published two books on her Islands of Niljora, held in the permanent and heritage collections of The New Zealand National Library and Otago University.
Carolin graduated with a B.F.A. with Honours in Painting from The Savannah College of Art & Design, and classically trained for two years at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy, along with various workshops worldwide. She now lives as an independent fine artist and illustrator, dwelling in a small picturesque town in Germany.
Her works are held in private collections in Europe, New Zealand, The United States and India.
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Awards & Honours
2022 16th International A.R.C. Salon Semi-Finalist (Fully From Life, Portrait & Imaginative Realism)
2021 Work-Study Scholarship, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2019 14th International A.R.C. Salon Finalist (Figurative)
2019 Finalist, Parkin Drawing Prize, The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
2018 Finalist, Parkin Drawing Prize, The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
2016 Finalist, ADAM Portrait Award, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
2014 Finalist, ADAM Portrait Award, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
2014 Selected for The ADAM Portrait Award National Tour, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
2010 Selected for The Savannah College of Art & Design Painting Residency, Lacoste, France
2010 Awarded Honours 'cum laude' Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, Savannah College of Art & Design
2007 - 2010 Awarded in top of the class 'Dean's List', Savannah College of Art & Design, United States
2007 - 2010 Honoured 'The Artistic Award Scholarship' for four years of study, Savannah College of Art & Design
2002 'Honourable Mention' in sculpture, The Scholastic Art Award, United States
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Selected Exhibitions
INSTITUTIONAL
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2023 The Frankfurt Book Fair - Fiction Books - Germany
2023 The Almenara Art Prize Online Exhibition - Spain
2019 The Parkin Drawing Prize - The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
2018 The Parkin Drawing Prize - The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
2017 The Adam Portraiture Award - The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
2016 N.Z.P.G. National Tour - Hastings City Art Gallery - New Zealand
2015 N.Z.P.G. National Tour - Millennium Public Art Gallery - New Zealand
2014 N.Z.P.G. National Tour - Percy Thompson Gallery - New Zealand
2014 N.Z.P.G. National Tour - PAH Homestead - New Zealand
2014 The Adam Portraiture Award - The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
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SOLO
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2016 'Worlds' - Deluxe - Wellington, New Zealand
2014 'Entrance To The Secret Worlds' - Deluxe - Wellington, New Zealand
2013 'The Primordials' - Deluxe - Wellington, New Zealand
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GROUP
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2017 'Wanderlust' - PRO4 organisation - Berlin, Germany
2017 'Vernissage' - PRO4 organisation - Berlin, Germany
2015 The New Zealand Art Show - TSB Arena - Wellington, New Zealand
2015 ´Art4Vanuatu´ - Bartley + Company Art - Wellington, New Zealand
2015 'Exhibit One' - 2 Eva Street - Wellington, New Zealand
2013 'Artist Showcase' - Deluxe - Wellington, New Zealand
2013 'Prints Showcase' - Kaan Zamaan Gallery - Kerikeri, New Zealand
2010 'Vernissage' - Rue Tromphime - Provence, France
2010 'Exposition' - Isle Sur La Sorgue, Provence, France
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Publication & Press
2022 Cover Illustration, Pansy Detwhiler Press - United States
2021 The Spirit of Shadows by Carolin Leary Prinn - Germany
2020 Raiffeisenbank - Golling, Austria
2019 The 14th International A.R.C. Salon Publication, Art Renewal Center - United States
2017 Dir. Mette Skougaard, Denmark Museum of National History, Artist Talk - N.Z.P.G.
2017 Sankt Marien Kirchengemeide - Leipzig, Germany
2016 Regjo - Germany
2016 Skydeck Music - United States
2015 The Primordials & Tales from The Islands of Niljora by Carolin L. Prinn - New Zealand
2015 Renegade Peach Productions - Artist Feature - Wellington, New Zealand
2015 ZHIZHY - Artist Feature - Wellington, New Zealand
2015 RadioActive FM - Artist Interview - New Zealand
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Collections & Clients
PUBLIC:
Pansy Detwhiler Press, U.S.A.
Raiffeisenbank, Austria
The Alexander Turnbull, National Library of New Zealand
Otago University Hocken Library, Dunedin, New Zealand
Otago University Library Main, Dunedin, New Zealand
Sankt Marien Kirchengemeide, Leipzig, Germany
Regjo, Germany
SkyDeck Music, U.S.A.
ZHIZHY, Wellington, New Zealand
PRIVATE:
New Zealand, Spain, Germany, France, Canada, United States, India
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Education
2019-21 Drawing and Painting Program, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2017 Intensive Workshop, The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
2010 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with Honours, The Savannah College of Art & Design, United States
2008 White Cloud Workshops in Concept Art, Paul Tobin (WETA), Massey University, New Zealand
2008 Courses in Art History & Literature, Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand
2002 - Onwards Various Workshops, School of The Museum of Fine Arts Boston & MassArt, Boston, United States
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- Carolin Leary Prinn | Fantastical Artist, Illustrator & Author - art-of-carolin-prinn

