
Leslie Rice
Rice has spent more than 15 years as an established tattoo artist (from a lineage of tattooists including his father and sister) and finds the transition to creating art on velvet to be strangely familiar. Like painting the body with a needle, painting velvet with a brush is exacting and unforgiving.
Leslie Rice is a two-time winner of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (2012, 2007) and has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize (2015, 2012, 2010, 2008) and the John Sulman Prize (2013).
Download PDF

LESLIE RICE - SULMAN PRIZE NOMINATION 2022
Leslie Rice, Blaming me is blaming God (a picture of Joseph Merrick), 2022, acrylic on velvet, 99.8 x 74.5 cm
A critically acclaimed painter and established tattoo artist, Leslie Rice is known for his use of dramatic imagery drawn from the grand tradition of history painting. Blending high art and pop, Rice combines Mannerist tableaux, including mythological and biblical references, with the vultures, lions, skulls and buxom women seen tattooed on the bodies of his clients and friends.

LESLIE RICE AT MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL
Les Rice presents Literary Tattoos at Melbourne Writers Festival over two consecutive weekends, beginning on Saturday 25 August from 10am.
For tickets and further details please click here.
Image: Leslie Rice, Bacchanal (Startled Satyr), 2014

LESLIE RICE SELECTED AS A FINALIST IN THE BLAKE PRIZE
Leslie Rice has been selected as a finalist in the Blake Prize. The Blake Prize is one of Australia’s longest standing and most prestigious prizes which encourages conversation about spirituality and religion through art.
The exhibition will be on display from 12 May until 1 July 2018 at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre in Sydney. The winner of the $35,00 prize will be announced on 19 May 2018.
Image: Leslie Rice, Bacchanal (Nevermore), 2014
Showing all 40 artworks