Vlad Kolas is a contemporary oil painter living and working in Byron Bay with his family.

Originally from Bondi, Vlad moved to the Northern Rivers in the late 90s, where the landscape’s light and rhythm began to reshape his approach to the canvas. A third-generation artist and National Art School graduate, his work is defined by a raw, gestural energy.

His practice balances technical tradition with a pursuit of semi-abstraction. Whether capturing a portrait or a coastal vista, Vlad focuses on the physical movement of oil paint, using bold mark-making to translate the character of a subject rather than just its likeness. This rhythmic, intuitive process allows his pieces to feel alive, capturing the fleeting energy of a moment through texture and light.

A winner of the Northern Rivers Portrait Prize, Vlad’s work is held in private collections across Australia, offering a modern, expressive lens on the Australian experience.