About

A portrait of Kenzopaints, wearing glasses and a beige sweater, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression, against a green background.
People viewing artwork and clothing on display at an art exhibition.

Kenzopaints is the passion project of emerging Melbourne artist Kennan Mendis. Kennan is a Bendigo-born, Sri Lankan artist who works across painting, textiles and murals. Kennan’s practice is a colourful and vibrant homage to the pop artists who inspired him, the likes of Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein and Yayoi Kusama.  

Kennan started sharing his paintings under the moniker ‘Kenzopaints’ in 2020, unsure about how his art would be received and his ability as a self-taught artist. To his surprise, his artworks were embraced by the Melbourne community for their distinct style involving quirky faces, bold lines and bright colours. Kennan continues to create under the Kenzopaints name today. 

Kennan uses his art as a means of personal reflection, and he strongly believes that art should be open to interpretation. His practice explores themes of community, sense of self, queerness and relationships. 

If you’re interested to see what he’s done, check out Kennan’s Portfolio.