About Didi La Baÿsse Art Studio & Gallery
Didi La Baÿsse History
Artist & designer Didi La Baÿsse represents a smiling and free-spirited dab of French Polynesian influences in Kuranda - the heart of Far North Queensland’s (FNQ) World Heritage-Listed Rainforest. From her art studio & art gallery in Kuranda, a world-renowned tourist destination above the FNQ air and seaport of Cairns, Didi, in her 50s, has already established an enviable Australian and international reputation as an artist.
Didi La Baÿsse was born of French parents on the beautiful French Polynesian Island of Tahiti in 1971. Her family moved to the city of Cannes in the south of France in 1976, then immigrated to Australia when she was 10 years old. Didi has been living in Kuranda, a little scenic village up in the Rainforest mountains of Cairns, for over 30 years where she creates her collections. Didi is an established artist since 1990 having an enviable Australian and international reputation as an artist... and it continues to grow.
Her desirable acrylic paintings, generous with paint slashes and humour, marry her rainforest surroundings with colourful Polynesian influences and whimsical imagination. Didi has a natural flair for bold simple structures and the use of brilliant colours. As well as her Fine Art paintings, Didi is also gifted with the knack of hand-building 3D sculptures from terracotta, forming nude figurines and wildlife creatures to complement her creativity. Incredibly, Didi handles the ever so delicate and prestigious silk textile, taught by Melbourne and Adelaide French Silk artist/designer "Marie France" Frater, among her early tutor.
Didi is equally adept on cotton fabrics, favouring the heliographic sun printing technique to best convey the uniqueness of her Polynesian influences. The results on canvas and silks are often addictive, finding their way into many private collections in Australia and worldwide. From delicate silks, practical cotton to Contemporary Art, sculptures, silver/goldsmithing... Didi is truly diverse.
Though growing up in Australia, Didi's education mixed her French, Australian and Tahitian influences, and after completing her studies she travelled often between these countries. She also was invited as a "guest artist" onboard numerous Pacific cruise ships for the Holland American Line. Other artistic ventures included providing her originally designed silks and cotton textiles for fashion parades - from Cairns' Pier Marketplace to 'Marchetti's at Palm Cove, Australian Tourism promotions, solo textile exhibitions and having her work featured heavily in Kuranda village's own international promotional material. In 1996 Didi was proudly representing her country as a Miss Universe Australia 1996 pageant, as well as having her silks "shown off" during the Miss Universe Australia 1996 swimsuit choreography.
"My paintings are like a silent story.
They are about letting the imagination free,
letting them talk to you silently,
and allowing them to bring back your emotions,
memories, and inspirations."
Didi La Baÿsse - Artist
I paint women and animals as symbols of freedom, intimacy, and belonging.
My work explores feminine presence — not as something performed for the viewer, but as something lived from within. The women in my paintings are calm, sensual, self-possessed. They are at ease with themselves. They are not asking for permission.
Animals appear as companions and witnesses: cats, birds, roosters, creatures of instinct and independence. They are not decorative. They represent intuition, loyalty, desire, protection, and freedom. Together, women and animals form quiet mythologies — scenes where intimacy and strength coexist.
Colour is central to my language. I work with bold, luminous palettes that evoke warmth, joy, and emotional clarity. My paintings are not driven by trauma or confrontation, but by presence, pleasure, and connection — to the body, to nature, and to inner life.
Living and working in Far North Queensland, the rainforest, rivers, and ocean inform my sense of light and rhythm. Place is an influence, not a subject. It feeds the work without defining it.
My practice spans figurative painting, symbolic narratives, and intimate scenes that blur the line between the personal and the universal. I am interested in what it means to belong — to oneself, to others, and to the natural world — and in reclaiming feminine joy as something powerful, deliberate, and unapologetic.
Didi La Baÿsse
I am a Contemporary French Artist. I provide original paintings which I exhibit in my art studio / art gallery . Only the finest quality artist paints and materials are used for total satisfaction.
I was born in Tahiti, lived in France, and have been living in Australia since 1982. I am a local Kuranda artist established since 1990.
Art has always been part of my life. Having an artist Mum meant I was always surrounded by artwork, the scent of oil paints and linseed oils, art tools and easels were part of my daily décor.
Experimenting throughout my career I found my style to be of simple lines with layers of bold vibrant colours. My artwork takes me to places I have never been before. I want my audience to feel a sense of fascination.
I am a self-taught freelance artist. I consider myself privileged as I make a living as an artist and manage my own art studio & gallery in the Kuranda Village where I can showcase and interact directly with my customers. I can satisfy their curiosity as they step into my creative space.
I prefer to paint with acrylic paints allowing me to apply thick layers with my palette knife building-up texture, I use any other tools I find handy in my studio, I even use my fingers and my own shirt, that is why you see me covered in paint.
I have a soft spot for painting female nudes and their cats - I tend to be cheeky!! it must be my French heritage. I also paint sailing boats, horses, birds giving me a sense of freedom. My landscapes represent my region the World Heritage Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
Meet the artist in person
If you are looking for an art studio combined art gallery where you can admire and purchased original paintings directly from the artist -
Didi La Baÿsse Art Studio & Gallery is the perfect place for you.
A hidden treasure nestled in the rainforest village of
Kuranda, Far North Queensland
Step into the vibrant world of Didi La Baÿsse, a self-taught French-Australian artist whose work radiates colour, texture, femininity, and raw emotion. Her beautifully curated working studio-gallery offers a rare opportunity to experience art where it's made, in the heart of Kuranda.
Didi draws deep inspiration from her surroundings, the ancient World Heritage rainforest, the vibrant life of the Great Barrier Reef, and the beauty of Australian native birds. Her collection includes sensual French nudes, always accompanied by cats, a whimsical and unmistakable signature element. She also paints figurative works featuring roosters, a recurring symbol that reflects both her connection to farm life and the iconic French national emblem. Another distinctive motif in her work is the 'dove of peace', symbolising hope, harmony, and the deeper human desire for serenity, a theme that gently threads through her practice.
Each original painting and handmade 'objet d'art' tells a story of passion, creative impulse, and connection to place. Visitors are warmly invited to meet the artist in person, explore her expressive collection, and witness the unique blend of French soul and Australian feel that defines her work.
The gallery proudly features a unique collaboration with Leah Kelly by Design, an international creator of handmade organic haute couture in natural fibers. Leah and Didi share a long-standing friendship and mutual admiration for each other's creative vision. Together, they bring fine art and haute couture under one roof, offering visitors an extraordinary experience that celebrates both original paintings and exquisite fashion. Leah regularly spends time in the gallery, ensuring guests have the chance to meet one of these passionate creators in person.
Whether you're an art lover, a curious traveller, or a collector seeking something meaningful, Didi's gallery offers an unforgettable experience — one of beauty, boldness, and authenticity.
Fine Arts and Haute Couture
I am so excited to announce that I have invited Leah Kelly by Design - an International designer & creator of Handmade organic Haute Couture in natural fibers to join me at my Art Studio & Art Gallery.
Leah and I have known each other for many years and have a mutual admiration for each other's creative work. We came up with the idea of Fine art and Haute Couture combined in one location creating an amazing experience for the lovers of art, original paintings and fashion.
Leah and I will coordinate our days so that one of us will be able to meet you in person.
Contact us directly to arrange an appointment and it will be a pleasure to show off our creations to you.
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Visit Leah’s social pages - Be amazed at her talent and success.
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Facebook: Leah Kelly By Design
Instagram : @leahkellybydesign
Website: www.leahkellybydesign.com.au