BIOGRAPHY

Liana Vargas is a figurative oil painter based in Hahndorf, South Australia.

At 48, Liana decided to pursue her passion for painting by enrolling as a full-time student at the Adelaide Central School of Art. This marked a significant shift after a 25-year career in the world of flamenco dance, where she worked as a choreographer and performer, showcasing her talents both internationally and across Australia.

Though she has transitioned away from theatre, its impact remains evident in her artwork. Liana’s performances were characterized by her remarkable ability to resonate emotionally and forge connections with her audience, a skill she carries into her painting.

Bold and sure. Her paintings show a willingness to express herself with authenticity, courage and colour.

Liana's talent for capturing the essence or spirit of her subjects results in deeply felt expressions that reveal the raw, vulnerable truths of her experience—particularly that of a woman navigating life in today's world.

Liana is currently working on paintings of her family and friends set in hyper-hued and sun-kissed environments that suggest holidays at the pool and palm tree-filled beach vacations.

Currently Liana’s Self Portrait ‘Sun Blissed’ has made the long list in the International Jacksons Art Prize out of 13000 entries worldwide

VISUAL ART TRAINING
2019 Renaissance Portrait Painting with Professor Timothy Allen, Rome

2014 Residency Award Scuola Internationale di Grafica, January-March, Venice

2012  Graduated with a Bachelor Visual Art, Adelaide Central School of Art, South Australia

EXHIBITIONS

2024 SALA Open Studio Gallery Hahndorf,

2023 Australis, A group exhibition for my students at Hughes Gallery

2022 Duthy Street Matador as Metaphor

2021 Life is An Art, A group exhibition for my students at Pepper Street Art Gallery

2022 Shut me up, Shut me down, SALA and beyond, Atelier Crafers Gallery

2019 SALA Duthy Street SALA Artists Exhibition

2018 SALA Duthy Street SALA Artists Exhibition

2017 Flow of Consciousness, SALA Solo Exhibition, Kensington Gallery

2015 The Barn Artists Collection, Group Exhibition, The Barn Gallery, Aldgate

2015 Line of Enquiry, SALA Solo Exhibition, Hahndorf Academy

2014 The Venetians, SALA Group Exhibition, Red Opus Art Space, Kensington

2014 VENICE - Elegant Decay, SALA Solo Exhibition, Rising Sun, Kensington

2014 Artists Voice Group Exhibition, , Adelaide Fringe, Hahndorf Academy

2013 Loreto Spring Art Fair, Group Exhibition 

2013 Artists Voice SALA Group Exhibition, Hahndorf Academy

2012 In Good Company, Graduate Exhibition Adelaide Central School of Art

2011 Art After SALA, Group Exhibition, Red Cross Gallery, Rundle St

2011 Espiritu 2, Solo Exhibition, Rising Sun, Kensington

2011 Espiritu, Solo Exhibition, Adelaide Fringe, Bakehouse Theatre

MENTORING / TEACHING

2023 Liana Vargas Studio Gallery, Hahndorf

2012 - 2023       Liana Vargas Art Tuition, Littlehampton

2019  - Now Duthy Street Art Studio

2019 - 2022 Atelier Crafers

2019 - 2020 The Paint Box, Hahndorf

2016 - 2018 Starving Artist Studio, Hahndorf, Director, Instructor

2014 - 2015 The Barn Gallery and Studios, Aldgate, 2013 - 2015 Youth Art Program, Hahndorf Academy

2012 - 2013 Stirling Art on the Green, Youth Art Tuition,

ART ADVENTURES / RETREATS DESIGNED FOR MY STUDENTS

2023 Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice Art Adventure September and October

2022 Queenstown Art Escape, November

2022 Hobart Art Escape, April

2021 Sacred Sites, Wilpena Pound, October

2021 Road Trip Art Adventure, Limestone Coast May

2020 Painting Under The Stars, Clare Valley, Plein Air Painting and Glamping, October

2019 Renaissance Retreat, Italy ‘October’ workshop in collaboration with Art Studio Rome

2019 Art of Balance, Japan ‘April’, workshops in collaboration with The Pigment Store Tokyo

A show reel of Liana’s Flamenco Career spanning 25 years, working in Madrid, Sydney, Mexico, London and Los Angeles.