Kerry-Anne Knibbs

Artist | Author | Symbolic Visual Practice

Featured Artist – Art Lovers Australia

Upcoming TV appearance – Selling Houses Australia

Kerry-Anne Knibbs is a symbolic artist and author whose work explores perception, imagery, and visual meaning. Her practice centres on what she calls “mindscapes”—internal visual fields where symbolic forms and birds exist within spaces of imagination and perception rather than external landscape.

Her recent book and body of work emerged from a grant research project exploring the work of Hilma af Klint, which evolved into a larger investigation of symbolic language, perception, and inner visual experience.

Kerry-Anne Knibbs is a symbolic artist and author whose work explores perception, imagery, and the language of visual meaning.

A lifelong visual thinker, she has been immersed in art since early childhood, recognising it as a natural way of experiencing and understanding the world. Her professional background spans fine art, illustration, graphic design, and a decade working in the design industry, including early experience connected to Walt Disney Sydney and exposure to the conceptual approaches of David Hockney.

Throughout her life, she has also navigated Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue condition present from birth that has progressively shaped her capacity to engage with the physical world. This has led to a life oriented strongly toward observation, internal visualisation, and symbolic thinking.

Her recent body of work emerged from a grant application that invited her to research an artist she resonated with. She chose Hilma af Klint. What began as a focused research project became a much larger exploration, drawing together a lifetime of visual experience, symbolic understanding, and perceptual awareness. The research generated a body of artwork that ultimately led to a self-published book, created to articulate insights that could not be fully expressed through image alone.

Her paintings describe what she calls “mindscapes”—internal visual fields where birds and symbolic forms exist within spaces of imagination, perception, and embodied awareness rather than external landscape. These works form an evolving symbolic language grounded in texture, composition, and visual resonance.

Rather than moving toward art later in life, Kerry-Anne describes art as a lifelong way of seeing, with her current practice representing the continuation of a visual language that has always been present, now refined through lived experience and sustained inquiry.

Kerry-Anne Knibbs trained in fine art, illustration, and graphic design and worked professionally in the design industry for approximately ten years. Early career experience includes work connected to Walt Disney Sydney and exposure to conceptual approaches associated with David Hockney.

She later retrained in teaching, counselling, and behavioural science, and worked for many years teaching and mentoring in fine art.

Due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a lifelong connective tissue condition that has progressively affected her physical capacity, she transitioned away from sustained teaching and returned to a focused personal art practice.

Her work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions and she is a Featured Artist with Art Lovers Australia.

Kerry-Anne Knibbs creates semi-abstract symbolic works centred on subject matter rather than landscapes. Her focus is birds and recurring symbolic forms placed within constructed internal spaces she describes as “mindscapes”—an inner visual field between waking, dreaming, imagination, and embodied perception.

Her process combines research and internal visualisation. Concepts, symbolism, and compositional intent are developed before painting begins, with the final image evolving through layered making.

Texture is central to her work, including layering, drips, and surface complexity. She works with Australian-made, environmentally conscious Matisse paints selected for tonal cohesion, matte finish, and colour sensitivity.

Her work forms an evolving symbolic language where meaning is suggested rather than fixed, allowing open interpretation.

Read more here

Read more here

This body of work did not begin as a planned series.

It began with a grant application.

I was invited to research an artist I felt a strong resonance with, and I chose Hilma af Klint. What began as a research exercise soon shifted into something far more immersive — a change in how I was perceiving and organising visual information itself.

As I engaged with the material, I began to notice something familiar but difficult to name: a pattern of perception that didn’t sit in the external world, but in an internal visual field. These spaces are what I describe as “mindscapes”.

These are not landscapes in the traditional sense. They are constructed inner visual environments where imagery, symbolism, and atmosphere form a kind of visual language.

Birds became a recurring form in this work. Not as literal depictions of nature, but as symbolic presences associated with movement, transition, intuition, and perception — elements that appear and reappear as the work develops.

What began as research did not remain analytical. It moved directly into painting.

The ideas translated into layered, textured works built through process rather than illustration. I work with Australian-made, environmentally conscious Matisse paints, chosen for their tonal subtlety and matte surfaces, which support atmosphere and cohesion within the work.

As the visual language evolved, I realised the work was not only visual, but conceptual. It held an internal system of ideas about perception, symbolism, and inner experience that required another form of expression.

That is what led to the book.

Not as a separate project, but as an extension of the work itself.

I did not set out to become an author. The structure of the work required it.

What continues to interest me is not what the images depict, but how perception constructs meaning — how we see before we interpret, and how meaning forms in that space between image and experience.

I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and work within physical limitations, with a strong focus on visual thinking and creative practice.

Living and working in the Blue Mountains, my practice continues to explore these internal visual environments — where symbolism, intuition, and structured thinking meet in paint.

Education

• Diploma in Fine Arts, Hornsby Technical College
• Diploma in Graphic Design and Professional Illustration, Randwick Selective Technical College
• Professional Photography, Randwick Selective Technical College
• Diploma in Community Services, Nepean Technical College
• Bachelor of Teaching, Charles Sturt University
• Counselling Studies, Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP)
• Diploma in Art Therapy, Centre of Excellence
• Certificates in Eastern Wisdom Traditions – Tai Chi, Qigong, Usui Reiki, Usui Reiki Meditation, Feng Shui 

Exhibitions and Awards

• 2013 – Curator, Arti-fact Exhibition, Blue Mountains
• 2023 – 2nd Place Connect and Collaborate Art Prize
• 2024 – Finalist Blue Mountains Portraits Cultural Centre Exhibition
• 2024 – Solo Exhibition Gang Gang Gallery, Lithgow
• 2024 – Finalist Blue Fringe Festival, Blue Mountains
• 2024 – Finalist Art Lovers Salon Exhibition, Melbourne
• 2025 – Finalist Wild Things Exhibition, Art Lovers Australia, Melbourne
• 2025 – Finalist Love Story, Art Lovers Australia, Melbourne
• 2025 – Finalist Force of Nature, Art Lovers Australia, Melbourne
• 2025 – Solo Exhibition Olivet Street, Glenbrook
• 2026 – Pop-up Exhibition The Ginger Jar, Glenbrook
• 2026 – Solo Exhibition Imagine, Glenbrook
• 2026 – Art Book Launch of Imagine, Glenbrook
• 2026 – Featured Artist for an upcoming TV Series

Work History

Independent Artist & Arts Educator | 2018–Present Over the past seven years, Kerry-Anne has focused on developing her personal art practice while providing private art classes through Ebb & Flow Studio, a creative hub she founded. Her classes took priority but her own work has slowly evolved from exhibiting with Bluethumb (an open marketplace platform) to becoming a represented artist with Art Lovers Australia, a highly selective gallery. 

Featured Artist – Art Lovers Australia | 2024–Present Selected as one of only 1000 artists represented nationally by Art Lovers Australia. Kerry-Anne’s artworks have featured in major curated exhibitions with ALA, including Wild Things, and have been showcased on the gallery’s homepage. Her work was also included in ALA’s national shareholder marketing campaign, promoting investment in the gallery.

Various Roles in Early Childhood, Secondary Education & Community Services Prior to her full-time focus on the arts, Kerry-Anne worked extensively across education and community sectors. She held roles as both a Teacher and Director, integrating her artistic skills into therapeutic and creative learning settings.

Cognitive Strength – Visual-Spatial Reasoning After studying Fine Arts, Kerry-Anne was accepted into one of Sydney’s most competitive commercial art colleges in Randwick during the 1990s. She credits her selection to a combination of sheer determination and strong visual-spatial skills. Later, she was formally assessed in the Very Superior range for visual-spatial reasoning during university testing—a cognitive strength reflected in her semi-abstract compositions, spatial harmony, and intuitive visual storytelling. Kerry-Anne also works with Accessible Arts Australia,  for accessibility opportunities.

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Collections

• Kerry-Anne – @artloversaustralia 

Current Gallery Representation / Agents

• Art Lovers Australia (selective online gallery)
• Ebony and Ivy Boutique, Glenbrook
• Ginger Jar Boutique, Glenbrook

Professional Memberships & Accreditation

• NAVA (National Association for the Visual Arts)
• ETA (Energy Therapies Australia)
• Creative Kids Provider (NSW Government)
• AON Insurance
• Accessible Arts

Heads Up

Just a quick heads-up: I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a genetic condition that affects the connective tissue in my body—like joints, skin, and internal organs—so they don’t function as they should. It can come with some challenges, but I’ve learned to manage it the best I can. I just wanted you to be aware in case I’m not feeling well, need to rest, have to step back from participating, cannot carry weighted things, can’t offer handshakes or hugs or if I am late or just can't make it at all. Please note all information on this page is my situation and opinion. If you want medical information please go to 'The EDS Society'.

Meeting People

Making new friends when you have a chronic condition can be challenging just putting yourself out there. It can feel scary, vulnerable, embarrassing and overwhelming. 

Mobility

My connective tissue disorder means dealing with flare ups and injuries all the time. I use a wheelchair and walking stick as needed. There is actually a term, “ambulatory”, for those who use a wheelchair to help get around even though at some points they may be able to walk.

Have you tried this?

There is currently no cure for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Collagen supplements are not effective for people with EDS, as the body breaks down all dietary proteins into individual amino acids and relies on genetic instructions—our DNA—to rebuild collagen. Since the issue lies within our DNA, supplements cannot correct the underlying problem. Certain treatments can pose serious risks. Steroid injections, for example, are generally not recommended due to the potential for complications like tendon rupture or nerve damage. Some commonly prescribed medications can increase the risk of aneurysms, and drugs such as opioids or anticholinergics can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms or contribute to conditions like gastroparesis. Invasive medical procedures also carry higher risks, including blood vessel rupture, excessive bleeding, poor wound healing or complications with anaesthesia. I truly appreciate when people want to offer help or suggestions but please know that I’m working closely with my healthcare team to make informed and careful decisions that are best for my health.

Some Random Facts

Travel is often very painful for me and sometimes not possible at all. I also face access issues when organizers aren’t willing to accommodate complex needs. My allergies are serious—gluten is the most dangerous, and my specialist has said it could be life-threatening.

I live with daily pain ranging from a 5 to a 10. Sometimes it's so severe I can't hold a conversation. Pain takes a huge amount of focus, so I struggle with demands or frustration from others—it can be overwhelming.

Typing and computer work can injure me, so long messages or documents are difficult. I also have immune issues so a simple cold can cause serious respiratory issues.

I’m grateful for my supportive husband. My family situation is complicated—most are estranged, except for my elderly mother and a cousin who is unwell.

Exercise and nutrition are the only things that help, but my diet can make social situations hard, and EDS makes exercise risky unless it's very gentle—and even then, there are no guarantees, so it is a never ending cycle of injuries and disfunction.

Further Information

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a rare genetic condition, so you may not have heard of it. It primarily affects women—around 90% of diagnosed cases—and currently, there is no dedicated EDS Society or government funding in Australia.

Tragically, it was recently reported that two women died overseas due to inadequate medical care related to EDS. And if that’s what is reported, how many more go unnoticed? In contrast, countries like the U.S., the U.K., and France have dedicated EDS societies that work to support patients, improve access to care, advocate for research, and foster collaboration across the medical community. Here in Australia, we have none of that support.

One of the most famous people believed to have had EDS is Elvis Presley. Had this been included in the recent film about his life, it could have brought much-needed global awareness to the condition. link

Other well-known individuals with EDS include:

1. Billie Eilish
2. Selma Blair
3. Halsey
4. Sia
5. Lena Dunham
6. Jameela Jamil
7. Cherylee Houston
8. Yvee Oddly
9. Rebecca Yarros

Read more

EDS Documentaries
🎦 The Raw and Honest Truth
🎦 Bend or Break