Leona Graham was born in Indiana, and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, granting her dual citizenship. Her educational credits include: a Bachelor of Arts with concentrations of study in Psychology and English (1995), a Diploma in Interactive Multimedia Design (1996), and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Studio Arts (2003). Relocating a number of times in her twenties eventually led to her residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she presently resides and works as a Graphic Designer for a weekly newspaper. Her first love is painting. However, her graphic design work usually pays the bills. In recent years, she discovered the joy of sculpture during her education in Santa Fe. This was evident when a sculpture, called Pressure, was published in "ReGeneration: Telling Stories from Our Twenties," edited by Jennifer Karlin and Amelia Borofsky (2003).
Artist Statement
Leona believes that in order to be an artist whose work is worthy of creation in the first place, she must be passionate about the world around her. Leona's artwork speaks to the problem of continued inequality, injustice, as well as physical, mental, emotional and spiritual constraint. These aspects of self and community cannot be truly examined as separate entities. Nor can they be examined in complete objectivity. They are also issues that have become foremost in the minds of many in our changing world, as of late. Although she uses the female form in much of her work, and the issues of women are dear to her, she feels her work can speak universally to cultural and spiritual experiences. She explores issues that are both global and intensely personal. Due to the nature of the work, the pieces often have very generic titles, if titled at all. This offers the observer the opportunity to experience the art with no preconceived intent from the artist through naming conventions. Leona is less concerned with the observer understanding a piece's meaning for Leona and more concerned with the observer having a deeply personal and prolific experience, whatever that may be. Everyone should take something uniquely hers/his from each interaction.
My curse is my gift. My nightmares, deep sensitivity, and emotional instability gives the best (and most uncomfortable) inspirations I could ever have. For me, art is passion - and visions are the mirror, which show my feelings and connect me with the rest of the world. Read More...
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