Photograph by A. Smailovic
About
Carolin is a contemporary fine artist and author based in Boston, Massachusetts. Painting and writing since she can remember, Carolin has developed a highly detailed visual world, eliciting universal and symbolic narratives through dreamlike compositions in watercolor, ink and graphite. The earliest concepts for what would become her mythos, The Islands of Niljora, came in childhood, inspired by extensive reading and exploration into myth, world culture, distant tales and later her own far-reaching travels.
She went on to earn her degree in painting from The Savannah College of Art & Design under a generous artistic scholarship award, and graduated with honours.
Alongside exhibitions in The United States, Europe, and her ancestral home of New Zealand, Carolin has delved into the realm of illustration for books, covers, and magazines and featured in publications including The International A.R.C. Salon Catalogue, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, and Infected By Art. Her published books of art and poetry, opening lancet windows into her mythical world, have been purchased by The National Library of New Zealand and The Otago University Library for their permanent heritage collections.
Carolin's paintings and written works can be found in private collections across The United States, Europe, Oceania, and India.
" Part myth, adventure and spiritual journey, my works compose the story of a mysterious and magical parallel realm, The Islands of Niljora. A reflection on our universal human experience, its tales have been uncovered through my travels, those I meet, and conversations of life. Fascinated by world culture and far off places, I explore the inner voyages, philosophies, dreams and hidden destinies that hold us together...told through the lens of heroes, epic wanderers and deific observers. "
Carolin Leary Prinn
Carolin Leary Prinn is a Fantastical Fine Artist, Painter, Illustrator & Author - art-of-carolin-prinn, symbolic art, surreal art, esoteric art, fantasy art, mystical art, spiritual art, beautiful bizarre artist directory, International ARC Salon, Adam Portraiture Award, Florence Academy of Art, Savannah College of Art and Design, new contemporary artist, fantasy artist
Education
B.F.A. with honours, The Savannah College of Art & Design, 2010
Florence Academy of Art, Italy, 2019-2021
Per Olav Olsen and Melissa Franklin Sanchez, Florence Academy of Art, Italy, 2017
White Cloud Workshop, Paul Tobin (WETA), New Zealand, 2008
Exhibitions
Starry Night, Curio Art Gallery, Portugal, 2027
Saints and Priestesses, Curio Art Gallery, Portugal, 2027
The Ghosts We Keep, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2026
Moth & Flame, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2026
Solo Exhibition: Journey Through a Timeless Tale, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2026
Distant Echoes: European Myths & Legends, Curio Art Gallery, Portugal, 2026
Labyrinth of Dreams, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2026
Regular Artist Roster, Every Day Original, 2026
Symbiotic Loops, WOW x WOW, UK, 2026
P.S. 10, Nucleus Portland, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., 2025
Newbie November Artist Roster, Every Day Original, 2025
Yours Truly, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2025
Echoes of The Raven, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2025
Enchanted Fables, Curio Art Gallery, Portugal, 2025
Art of Lore, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2025
P.S. 9, Nucleus House, Portland, OR, U.S.A. 2024
Enigmatic World of Owls, Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A., 2024
The Portrait Show 12: Myth, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, U.S.A., 2024
The Frankfurt Book Fair, 2023
Student exhibition, The Florence Academy of Art, 2020
The Parkin Drawing Prize, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, 2019
The Parkin Drawing Prize, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, 2018
Wanderlust, PRO4, Berlin, Germany, 2016 & 2017
The Adam Portraiture Award Exhibition, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Wellington, 2017
The Adam Portraiture Award National Tour, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, 2014-2016
Worlds, Deluxe, Wellington, New Zealand, 2016
The New Zealand Art Show, TSB Arena, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015
Art4Vanuatu Charity Show, Bartley + Company Art, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015
Exhibit One, 2 Eva Street, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015
Entrance To The Secret Worlds, Deluxe, Wellington, New Zealand, 2014
The Primordials, Solo Exhibition, Deluxe, Wellington, New Zealand, 2013
Drawings, Solo Exhibition, August, Wellington, New Zealand, 2013
Artist Exposition, Isle Sur La Sorgue, France, 2010
S.C.A.D. Residency Show, Rue Tromphime, Lacoste, France, 2010
Publication & Awards
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine - Issues 45, 49, 53
Hyperlux Magazine - Summer 2026
International A.R.C. Salon, Finalist & Semi-Finalist - 14,16,17,18
Beautifulbizarre.net - "Interview with Carolin Leary Prinn"
The Lunar Codex - "The Polaris Collection" digital time capsule stored on the moon
Hyperlux Magazine - "The Mythical Art of Carolin Leary Prinn"
Beautifulbizarre.net - "Interview with Carolin Leary Prinn, Magical Realist Painter"
The Almenara Art Prize 2024, Figurative, Online Exhibition
"The Spirit of Shadows" purchased for permanent heritage collections of The New Zealand National Library
"The Spirit of Shadows" purchased for The Otago University Library, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
"The Primordials" purchased for The Otago University Library, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
"The Primordials" purchased for the permanent heritage collections of The New Zealand National Library
Work/Study Scholarship Award - The Florence Academy of Art
The Parkin Drawing Prize Finalist - 2018, 2019 - New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
RadioActive FM - Artist Interview - Wellington, New Zealand
Artist Talk, Dir. Skougaard, Denmark Museum of National History, N.Z.P.G.
The Adam Portrait Award Finalist - 2016, 2018 - The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
The Adam Portrait Award National Tour - The New Zealand Portrait Gallery
Painting Residence - The Savannah College of Art & Design, Lacoste, France
Advanced to graduate classes in Concept Art - Savannah College of Art & Design, U.S.A.
Dean's List, 2007-2010 - Savannah College of Art & Design, U.S.A.
Artistic Honours Scholarship Award, 2007-2010 - Savannah College of Art & Design
Artist Scholarship Award - San Francisco Academy of Art
Honourable Mention - The National Scholastic Art Award, U.S.A.
Galleries
Poetic Tiger Gallery, Boise, ID, U.S.A.
Artwork Available at Poetic Tiger Gallery
Every Day Original Artist Roster
Artwork Available on Every Day Original
Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, U.S.A.
Artwork Available at Modern Eden Gallery
Nucleus Portland, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Artwork Available at Nucleus Portland
PUBLISHED Books
The Spirit of Shadows, A Collection of Tales from The Islands of Niljora, 2021
The Primordials & Tales from The Islands of Niljora, 2015