Ethan Lam is an Australian painter whose work is stylistically and thematically contemporary. Lam explores the physical and emotional repercussions of existential and social issues. As he aims to provide insight into his thoughts and inner emotional state, he also strives to balance the conscious and subconscious mind. Working in a range of media, Lam builds layers of imagery in order to confront the viewer with the problems that concern him. He always endeavors to paint in a way that conveys empathy toward the subject he chooses to paint.

Lam’s native Australia influences his artwork. Australia is a land of powerful contrasts. The diversity of its landscapes makes its way into the artist’s paintings, informing his choices of color and setting. The strong visual aesthetic of the rain forests contrasts greatly with the austere outback. Such drastic differences appear to create their own narrative acts as stimulus and inspiration. In compositions like Fractured, for example, Lam achieves a powerful sense of compositional unity while conveying the sense of incongruity and drastic, even traumatic transition.