Kim Bolitho is a contemporary Australian artist whose practice explores light, space, and the spiritual dimensions of perception. Influenced by Zen philosophy and the 1960’s Light and Space Movement, her luminous oil paintings on canvas create layered fields of colour where halos and orbs emerge as metaphors for divine presence, cosmic origin, and human transcendence.
In this body of work, presented at Art 3f Paris (January 23-25, 2026), archetypal forms manifest against ethereal gradients and earthly depths: ‘Mother Earth’ evokes planetary gestation in resonant reds;
‘Passion’ encloses sacred intensity within shadowed enclosure;
‘Lumen Light Pinks’ radiates meditative serenity through soft halo gradients.
The nine-panel polyptych ‘My Brother’ structured around the numerological completeness of nine, portrays a guardian figure emerging in protective aura against a liminal lake-scape, symbolising clairvoyant vision, fraternal bond, and rebirth beyond loss. A lifelong rock and intuitive guide, the brother’s presence endures as transcendent light.
After nine years living and exhibiting large-scale oils in Tokyo, beginning in 1990, alongside earlier time in Europe, Bolitho’s work fuses Eastern and Western perceptual traditions. Working with wax-satin textured surfaces that fuse materials depth with sublime glow, she invites viewers into evocative portals - bringing the seen and unseen, memory and eternity. Grounded in rural Australian heritage and enriched by global contemplation, her paintings foster inner revelation in our contemporary world.
Painting with Light.
Photo: Simon Harsent. Agency Saatchi & Saatchi for Pacific Power
This artist is in love with colour and light.
Kim Bolitho’s artistry reflects a deep engagement with her art, highlighted by her creative role in the internationally awarded "Painting with Light" TV commercial for Pacific Power, Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, captured by cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. The project earned prestigious accolades, including the Australian Television Award for Visual Effects, a Silver in Visual Effects at the New York One Show, and finalist placements at the Cannes Advertising Film Festival and London International Advertising Awards.
View the video ‘Painting with Light’ here.
From exhibiting in Tokyo in 1990 including Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum followed by a major exhibition of oil paintings at Gran Casino Nervion, Bilbao, Spain, she now shapes her vision within the storied walls and garden of a 1904 estate in the quiet of Matong, NSW—a space that harmonizes heritage and innovation.
Her works form an archival bridge between spirituality and life, exploring the intersection of imagination, and logic through symbolism. Drawing parallels with immersive clarity, Kim’s visual narratives elevate the everyday into the profound, intertwining presence and absence through meditations on ecological and philosophical themes. Rooted in a Zen philosophy that values simplicity and the essence of the present moment, her practice employs symbolic shapes and evocative colour palettes to create sensory journeys that invite contemplation and foster near-spiritual experiences, illuminating the unseen and forging a profound connection with the viewer’s emotions and interpretations. Through this approach, her art becomes a transformative space, encouraging introspection and a deeper engagement with the shared human experience.
