Artist Statement — Lira Kay
I returned to the canvas after a decade away, with urgency.
Today, in my Kailua studio, I create small originals on paper, textured mixed-media canvases, and botanical studies that capture the vibrant atmosphere and light of Hawaii. My work builds on a single core truth: that something real passes between a painting and the person who brings it into their home.
Paint accumulates. Layers build. What survives is more honest than anything planned. Drawing on my Russian Estonian roots, a background in psychology and film, and life long art studies with great mentors around the world, I paint out of conviction that art is a sacred catalyst for transformation.
These paintings are an invitation into hope, resilience, and the beauty of life right now.
OFFICIAL BIO
Lira Kay
Fine Artist & Visual Creator | Kailua, Hawaii
Lira Kay brings over three decades of fine art experience, creative leadership, and international exhibition history to her studio practice on the windward coast of Oahu. Born and raised in Estonia, where her foundational artistic vision took root, Lira later expanded her studies with specialized coursework in mixed-media painting and filmmaking at Central Saint Martins in London.
Her artistic journey spans major cultural hubs in Europe and the United States. From 2008 to 2011, Lira founded and directed Marseille Project Gallery in France, curating international contemporary art exhibitions and film screenings that connected global artists with local communities.
Throughout her career, Lira’s artwork has earned notable recognition:
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The Discerning Eye Regional Prize at The Mall Galleries in London, UK
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The Artists Connection Technology Award in Boston, MA, for her digital print series Divine
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Featured artist on ARTFEM.TV, an international platform for women video artists alongside pioneering women creators
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International gallery representations and exhibitions including Blue Hour (Germany) and Blackbox Gallery (Zurich, Switzerland)
Her paintings and media installations belong to corporate and private collections across Europe and the US, as well as the permanent public collection of the Narva Museum in Estonia.
Today, operating out of her Kailua home studio, Lira merges avant garde European technique with contemporary island atmosphere—creating works on canvas, paper, and mixed media that invite viewers into a dialogue with raw color, rich texture, and Hawaiian light.
Beyond the Canvas:
A Life of Transformation & Community
Art has never been just a career for me—it has been my method of surviving, evolving, and celebrating the full spectrum of being human.
My story is an odyssey into the unknown. Raised in Estonia and coming of age during the collapse of the Soviet Union, I learned early on that life requires resilience, adaptability, and an enduring commitment to inner strength. After losing my first husband at a young age, I found myself starting over as a young widow raising children. Yet through every season of grief, relocation, and change, the urge to create—and to uplift others—remained my steady compass.
I have always lived at the intersection of visual art and human potential. Even before my international exhibition history and running Marseille Project Gallery in France, my deep curiosity about the mind led me to higher education in psychology and psychotherapy. Little did I know, that at the age 42—a true late bloomer - I'll launch a global coaching practice, investing in high-level mentorship, business training, and personal development. Over the next decade, I mentored clients worldwide, created community arts projects wherever I lived, and raised my five daughters, all while learning the art of entrepreneurship from the ground up.
When the pandemic dismantled that business, it brought a profound identity shift. Returning to my easel in Kailua after years away wasn't a planned business move—it was a sacred homecoming. I came back to the canvas free of old expectations, guided simply by faith, intuition, and a quiet joy in the process.
Today, my studio in Kailua is a sanctuary for that joy. I believe that creativity is not an exclusive gift reserved for a few, but a natural human birthright—a powerful catalyst for healing, self-discovery, and connection.
Looking Ahead: Creative Gatherings & Workshops in Kailua
Having taught, trained, and facilitated transformative experiences my entire adult life, I am excited to begin opening my studio doors to the local community. I am prepping small-group art workshops and creative gatherings right here in Kailua—designed for artists, beginners, seekers, and anyone looking to reconnect with raw color, intuitive expression, and the joy of making.
Whether you are a collector looking for a piece that speaks to your home, a fellow artist navigating your own path, or someone longing to unlock your creative voice, I welcome you to join this journey. Let’s celebrate beauty, support one another, and embrace the sacred adventure of life together.
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