Lee McConnell, 31 of Byron Bay, is this year’s SITG artist in residence. What does that mean exactly? Well, it means he gets his own gold-plated caravan in the backstage VIP area, complete with a fully stocked bar and a personal orangutan named ‘Pongo’ who knows how to make the world’s best margaritas.
Lee got the gig because right now he’s one of the most prolific and recognised rock ‘n’ roll artists in the game, having designed covers and posters for the likes of dune rats, dz death rays, peking duck, jack river and a whole lot more.
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Stylistically McConnell incorporates bright colours, mind-melding abstract imagery, and warped features of the natural world in a way that feels both environmentally-anchored and interdimensional at the same time. It’s weird but also euphoric, which is why he’s the perfect person to be the Splendour In The Grass artist in residence and have his work gazed upon by the thousands of attendees.
Lee McConnell is an eclectic artist with
a passion that has seen him work with legendary label, Mambo, design album covers for incredible bands such as Grinspoon and Dune Rats, and now become the Lord of Art at this year’s Splendour in the Grass. Paradiso magazine’s Aarna Hudson chats art, music and the cosmic landscapes from his dreams.