Leah Thiessen

My work taps into the emotional gravity of a place, its memory, its pulse, its rawness and power. For me the paintings communicate a deep felt relationship with the earth, embodying a spirit of place and its atmosphere. The images are a direct emotional response to the bush, beaches and mangroves that surround my home. My paintings explore unique ways of capturing the diversity of the natural terrain. I am interested in local flora, protected plant species, seaweeds and noxious plants. I often start my paintings with the small delicate details found in the bush and then depart to a place of frantic energy.
Artist Statement - Leah Thiessen

'Thiessen describes her work as an immersion in the emotional resonance of her surroundings. Each painting begins with subtle impressions - delicate marks and quiet tones - that gradually build into more vigorous layers of color and form. The process is instinctive and physical, guided as much by feeling as by sight. She often pushes a piece well beyond the point where other artists might stop, stripping away and rebuilding until a new kind of harmony emerges.'
Excerpt from catalogue essay by Kate McAuley 2025