Artist Eleni Rivers

Profoundly inspired by our earliest ancestors and their innate curiosity for the natural world, Eleni Rivers’ work reveals a deep captivation with nature—its vastness, diversity, and ingenuity. Positioned between abstraction and representation, her artworks refrain from depicting the natural world as it appears in reality. Instead, she uses symbolic, enigmatic imagery, vibrant colours, and conceptual forms. These works emerge from a fusion of Eleni’s internal dreamscape and external lived experiences, reflecting an attuned perception of place and a quiet but insistent sense of environmental stewardship.

This body of work investigates the intimate connections and synchronicities we form with our surroundings. Driven by the need to reconcile her civilised self with a more instinctive, primal nature, the series seeks to intuitively understand our place within both immediate contexts and the broader world. By observing outward interactions alongside inward rhythms and emotional landscapes, her work underscores sensations of connection, belonging, and the soul’s intrinsic bond with the environment.

Now based in Central Victoria, Eleni holds art degrees from several Australian institutions and a Master’s in Arts and Consciousness from Berkeley, California. Since 1982, she has worked as a visual arts educator across various Australian colleges, including the University of Melbourne, Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, and the Centre for Adult Education. Her work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally and is held in private collections around the world.

Eleni works primarily in watercolour, acrylic, and mixed media on canvas, board, and paper. In addition to her studio practice, she is an experienced art teacher and community artist, contributing creatively in a range of educational and collaborative settings.

Education

MFA, Arts & Consciousness, JFK University, Berkeley, California
Postgraduate Degree in Fine Art, City Art Institute, Sydney, Australia
Diploma in Fine Art, Alexander Mackie College, Sydney
Certificate in Fine Art, Claremont Tech, Western Australia Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
Independent study Central Australia, Greece, Scotland, UK, USA, India, Mexico...