Courtney Brims - Paradisia

Courtney grew up in the outskirts of Brisbane collecting dead beetles, dressing up as Ursula from The Little Mermaid and drawing pink unicorns and prehistoric birds. She graduated with a degree in interior design from Brisbane's Queensland University of Technology before becoming a full-time illustrator in 2008. Since then she has had numerous solo shows across Australia and the US and collaborated with national and international brands. Courtney’s work explores her curiosity with the natural world, specifically the interplay between prey and predator through adaptation and metamorphosis. Behind the ornamental and ethereal charm of flowers, animals and female figures lies the cunning and unsettling underbelly of nature. She depicts scenes where animals become entangled within weaving hair and vines, nesting in skeletal remnants that hint at humanity’s impermanence.

“A cornucopia of native wildlife. Courtney Brims is an artist who wholly celebrates personal connections to nature, especially within the Australian landscape. She goes beyond the mere surface, exposing the intimate, mysterious aspects of the hidden world that is usually relegated to the periphery. Her illustrations are reminiscent of a magical realist dream, a place where imagination takes precedence within the backdrop of the real world. We only need to look at Courtney’s work to become reconnected with our child-like mind, the one that finds beauty and playfulness in the everyday that surrounds us. Ultimately, Courtney Brims is one of those rare artists who can create new perspectives, and who inspires us to look beyond and beyond until we ourselves are reborn. It’s more than a call to nature; it’s a call to becoming.” - Andrea Kovacic

Artist Statement

Magical realism is a theme I have always been drawn to. Taking inspiration from science fiction, mythology and folktales, 80s fantasy films, and natural history illustration, my work depicts detailed imaginary worlds that are connected to something that already exists and that we are familiar with. They are inhabited by creatures both local and exotic that engage with the viewer in a playful way, inviting one to create their own narrative.

Much like the natural world, there is an underlying sense of mystery to the creatures that revolves around the triad of beauty, temptation, and danger. Bittsweetness is something that seeps into most of my paintings, balancing themes of longing and melancholy with levity and hope.

I’ve also featured pieces from my work with Australian fashion brand Zimmermann including illustrations from a Picnic at Hanging Rock inspired collection as well as original artworks used in toile fabric designs.