Artist Bio
Zelie Alice is best known for her visually striking, bold-colored paintings. An award-winning artist, she has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the USA.
Her paintings are held in private collections, presidential palaces, hotels, and resorts across these regions, as well as in permanent museum collections. In 2022, her work was acquired by the National Art Museum of China’s permanent collection in Beijing—one of the largest and most prestigious museums in the world.
Born in the Maldives, Zelie now lives and works in Paris, France. Her artistic journey has been shaped by the diverse places she has called home, each influencing her perspective on color, movement, and the human connection to nature. Through her work, she explores the emotional and visual dialogue between landscapes and memory.
Recent selected group exhibitions include the Dafen International Oil Painting Biennale (China), Homage Park Soo Keun Museum Exhibition (Korea), and the 9th Beijing International Art Biennale (China).
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Artist Statement
My art is a form of visual poetry, a language of color and movement that expresses my deep connection to nature. The natural world is not just my inspiration—it is a profound presence in my life, offering both solace and revelation. Trees, verdant landscapes, and shifting skies provide a space for contemplation, where I explore themes of permanence and ephemerality, introspection, and the quiet grandeur of everyday life.
I embrace gestural brushstrokes that highlight the physicality of my process, allowing movement and emotion to shape each piece. My use of color is instinctive and expressive—bold, untamed, and filled with contrasts that evoke both harmony and tension. Through sweeping motions and layered textures, I translate organic forms into fluid landscapes, where pastures undulate like waves and skies dissolve into swirling galaxies. This interplay of energy and stillness reflects the ever-changing rhythms of nature. While acrylic is my primary medium, I also work with oil, watercolor, and ink, each offering its own unique interaction with light and texture.
In 2019, I created a series of 32 paintings addressing the climate crisis, which were showcased in a solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Maldives. I feel responsible for addressing this issue through my work, as I believe art can be a silent yet powerful voice for change. Through my paintings, I seek to engage viewers in a quiet conversation about our relationship with the planet one that is urgent yet deeply personal.
Over the years, I have developed my own artistic style, constantly challenging myself with new techniques and perspectives. I describe my style as “Vivid Impressionism,” an evolution of contemporary impressionism that blends spontaneity with intention. Each painting is an invitation to pause, to feel, and to see the world with renewed wonder.