Jorge Leiva

Jorge Leiva has over 25 years of active arts practice across painting, sculpture, music, multi-art environments, and the development of immersive artistic experiences. He is well recognised within Melbourne’s diverse arts community for bringing together audiences from varied backgrounds, engaging artists in schools and public spaces, and directing award-winning community projects such as peopleartpeople and EL TARRO.

SBS has described Jorge as a forerunner of Melbourne’s Latin art scene, known for integrating the community through art and regularly featuring as a cultural spokesperson on community radio and other media channels.

Artistic Practice

As a visual artist, Jorge specialises in painting with strong impressionist and expressionist influences, while also working across sculpture, printmaking, drawing, ceramics, assemblage, and performance art. His work has been exhibited in galleries and art spaces across Australia, Colombia, and the USA.

Jorge’s visual artwork is informed by the changing contexts that he encounters as a human being, a father, a teacher and an artist. His artistic practice is deeply intertwined with his work in arts education. As both an artist and educator, he sees art as a powerful tool for learning, reflection, and connection. His classroom practice informs his studio work, and vice versa—each feeding into a broader creative dialogue that explores identity, belonging, social justice, and cultural exchange.

His critically engaged art presents layered social commentary through mixed media portraits and landscapes, drawing on:

• His upbringing in conflict-affected Colombia

• His migration to Australia in 2007

• Contemporary environmental challenges

• The social and emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on wellbeing and community

 Community & Curatorial Work

Since 2008, as co-artistic director of peopleartpeople, Jorge has been an active contributor to Melbourne’s contemporary art landscape, curating and producing over 40 multidisciplinary events and engaging with over 300 artists. He has collaborated with leading arts and government organisations including:

• Malthouse Theatre

• Multicultural Arts Victoria

• Melbourne Fringe Festival

• City of Yarra

• City of Darebin

• Embassy of Colombia

As peopleartpeople co-artistic director, since 2008, Jorge has been actively involved in Melbourne’s contemporary art landscape, curating and showcasing contemporary art made by Latin- Australian artists, producing more than 40 events, developing partnerships with key arts organisations (Malthouse Theatre, Multicultural Arts Victoria, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Reservoir Stomp), and engaging with over 300 artists. Also, coordinating varied exhibitions, including 2022 Leaders Exhibition and 2011 Heartlands Refugee Art Price by Multicultural Arts Victoria.

He has also coordinated exhibitions such as:

• 2022 Leaders Exhibition

• 2011 Heartlands Refugee Art Prize, Multicultural Arts Victoria

Awards & Recognition

Jorge’s visual art has been acknowledged through several awards:

• Sustaining Creative Workers Initiative, Regional Arts Victoria (2022)

• Positive Start Program, Regional Arts Victoria (2022)

• Creative Workers in Schools Grant, Regional Arts Victoria (2021)

• Youth for Peace Award, Psychologists for Peace, Australian Psychological Society (2020)

• Leading Art Project across the Southern Hemisphere, South Project Inc. for EL TARRO (2011)

• First Prize, Plaza & Janés Art Competition, Colombia (1998)

Teaching & Daily Practice

With two decades of experience as an art educator, Jorge produces artwork daily to demonstrate techniques and inspire students. His teaching practice is grounded in ongoing research into contemporary and historical art, ensuring a dynamic and relevant approach to arts education.

Selected Exhibitions

• Creating Liminal Spaces, The University of Melbourne, Australia, 2016

• Spectrum at Synergy Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2011

• Portraits at Synergy Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, 2011

• IV Biennial de Suba, Centro Comercial Bulevar Niza, Bogota, Colombia, 2003

• Art Exhibition “One” Buena Vista Gallery. Bogota, Colombia, 2002

• Art Auction, Local Artists, Suba-Centre, Colombia, 2001

• Art Exhibition “Igualmente Diferentes”, Centro Cultural Santa Cruz, Bogota, Colombia, 2001

• III Art Biennial of Suba, Francisco Jose de Caldas Library, Colombia, 2001

• Collective Exhibition “Officious Art”, Culture House, Cota, Colombia, 2000

• Individual Exhibition “JL”, Bohorquez Art Gallery, La Playa, Sesquilé, Colombia, 2000

• Collective Contest for Mural Painting; Universidad Nacional Art Museum, Colombia, 1999

• Environment “Roots”. Basements of the National Universities library, Colombia, 1998