The Pop-Up Project | Los Angeles 2026
A Sydney Artist on an International Stage
In September 2026, Sydney-based mixed-media artist Lisa Rees will present work as part of Voltage of Hope, an international contemporary art exhibition hosted by The Pop-Up Project at Mica Studios in Los Angeles.
Follow the Journey to Los Angeles
Lisa will be documenting the development of the works selected for Voltage of Hope through behind-the-scenes studio updates, exhibition announcements and collector previews.
Exhibition Details
Event: Voltage of Hope
Preseneted by: The Pop-Up Project
Venue: MICA Studios
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: September 2026
Bringing together artists from across the world, the exhibition explores themes of transformation, possibility and human connection—ideas that sit at the heart of Lisa's evolving artistic practice.
Known for her contemporary portraiture, sculptural surfaces and luminous use of gold leaf, Lisa creates works that explore the intersection of beauty, confidence and personal presence. Her subjects are often powerful female figures, not as portraits of specific individuals, but as reflections of resilience, identity and self-expression.
For Lisa, participation in Los Angeles represents more than an exhibition opportunity. It marks an important chapter in a journey that began not in a gallery, but in a Sydney studio where a long-held creative passion gradually evolved into a growing professional practice.
Gold, Glamour and the Human Story
There is an unmistakable sense of elegance throughout Lisa Rees' work.
Fashion, adornment and surface detail frequently appear as visual motifs, yet beneath their beauty lies something more enduring. Her artworks explore the stories people carry, the confidence they develop, the challenges they overcome and the identities they choose to embrace.
Raised in a Greek family where music, performance and self-expression were part of everyday life, Lisa developed an early appreciation for how visual presentation can communicate emotion, confidence and individuality. That influence continues to shape her work today.
Rather than treating beauty as a superficial subject, Lisa approaches it as a language. One capable of expressing strength, transformation and human complexity.
This perspective is perhaps most evident in her use of gold.
Traditionally associated with permanence, reverence and value, gold leaf appears throughout her work as both a material and a metaphor. It catches light, changes with its environment and reveals different qualities from different viewpoints. In many ways, it mirrors the themes that continue to emerge throughout her practice: growth, transformation, and the many layers beneath outward appearances.
Texture plays an equally important role.
Working with sculptural materials, dimensional surfaces and layered construction techniques, Lisa creates artworks that extend beyond traditional painting. These tactile elements encourage viewers to slow down, move closer and engage with the work in a more intimate way. Surface becomes story. Material becomes meaning.
While her work is visually striking, it is ultimately grounded in human experience. Themes of confidence, resilience, femininity and connection run consistently throughout her practice, allowing her artworks to resonate across cultures and geographical boundaries.
It is this combination of contemporary aesthetics and universal themes that makes her work particularly relevant within the context of Voltage of Hope. The exhibition's focus on transformation and possibility echoes many of the ideas Lisa continues to explore through her own artistic language.
Why This Moment Matters
Collectors are often drawn to artists at moments of meaningful transition.
Participation in Voltage of Hope represents one such moment in Lisa Rees' artistic journey. As her work reaches new audiences internationally, this exhibition marks the beginning of a broader conversation around a practice that continues to evolve through experimentation, craftsmanship and storytelling.
For those following contemporary Australian art, it offers an opportunity to witness an artist establishing her voice on a larger stage while remaining deeply connected to the themes and values that first inspired her work.
Press and Recognition
Explore other exhibitions, publications and media features that have contributed to Lisa Rees' growing international profile.
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