Born in Sydney, Kareena Zerefos is a Greek Australian artist based in Lisbon, Portugal. With a background in design and illustration, she graduated with a Master of Art from the University of New South Wales in 2017.
In coloured pencil, watercolour and layered mixed media, Kareena works predominantly on paper to explore themes of duality and dichotomies — isolation and connection, past and future, tangible and ethereal, natural and artificial. Through her drawings she aims to evoke a sense of nostalgia and tranquility, challenging the borders of real and imagined, presence and escapism.
Illustration
Branding & Visual Design
Textile & Surface Design
SINCE 2017Juggling Creation
Motherhood is a work in progress, made up of tiny moments — and in these moments, I've found clarity, faced many challenges, lost myself, and found the world anew, all through the lens of my daughter's awe. Amidst these experiences, art has continued to be my sanctuary, my playful partner in crime, guiding me not just to express or escape, but to connect — with myself and that sweet soul whose tiny, sticky fingers never miss an opportunity to poke into my watercolours.
It isn’t simply about making marks on paper — it's rediscovering my self amidst the beautiful disarray. It's about the freedom of exploration, the delight of curiosity, the purity of joy, and the unity shared through creativity.