The Emerald Collection!
New arrivals
Oil painting
Introduction
For over two decades, Elli Ansari has explored the stories of women through figurative and narrative portraiture. Based in Melbourne, Australia, her work brings together realism, emotion, and storytelling through dramatic light, rich shadows, and her signature emerald palette. Each painting reveals a quiet narrative of femininity, resilience, identity, and the emotions that often remain unspoken.
Elli’s passion for art began in childhood and developed through formal artistic training in Isfahan under Master Iman Ghasemian, an artist connected to the artistic lineage of renowned Iranian painter Abbas Katouzian. After migrating to Australia, she continued her postgraduate studies in Painting at the National Art School.
With a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and more than two decades of experience, Elli has built a career spanning studio practice, art education, exhibitions, and community engagement. Her journey has taken her from Iran to Sydney and Melbourne, shaping a practice grounded in classical technique, storytelling, and a deep exploration of women’s experiences.
Alongside her studio practice, Elli has dedicated many years to art education. Between 2004 and 2011, she taught painting at Atelier Ziba in Sydney, as well as at the Academy Art Centre in Mosman, the Iranian Library in Hornsby, the Iranian Community Organisation in Parramatta, and Green Educational Centre in Chatswood. In 2010, she established her own private art school in Top Ryde, Sydney, which she successfully operated until 2017. After relocating to Melbourne, she continued teaching through her private studio from 2018 to 2021.
Throughout her career, Elli has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Iran and Australia. Her work has received awards and public recognition, including first place for Dance in Persepolis in Iran and widespread attention for The Thirsty Child in Sydney. More recently, she exhibited with the City of Whittlesea, where her painting Belonging in His Presence attracted significant public interest.
Art that stirs your soul.
At the heart of Elli Ansari’s work are the stories of women. Each painting is rooted in a personal narrative, exploring femininity, identity, resilience, and the emotions that often remain unspoken. Rather than simply capturing a likeness, her portraits seek to reveal the inner world of their subjects through realism, dramatic light, and expressive shadow.
Emerald green has become a defining element of Elli’s visual language. Inspired by her fascination with gemstones and fine jewellery, the colour represents growth, renewal, hope, and resilience. Combined with deep shadows and a dark palette, it creates a quiet yet powerful atmosphere where beauty and vulnerability coexist, inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and connect with the human story within each painting.