Artist statement
“Landscape is a portrait of the soul”
A quote from an unknown source scribbled in my sketchbook some years ago; it has formed part of the basis of my recent work where I explore the spaces we exist in, both physical and psychological. I use the real landscape which surrounds me as a metaphor for my inner life of imagination and emotion; these are not drawings from life, but drawings of life; drawing the relation between the visible and the invisible; the material and immaterial are not separate but are reliant on each other to create meaning in this lived reality.
Drawing dominates my practice at present as the media most complements and mirrors my subject matter, which is expressing facets of our existence. In drawing there is a relation with the provisional and unfinished, it exists in a state of suspense so connecting it with the lived life experience.
To live is to forever be in a state of change and so the medium of drawing is particularly relevant to the subject matter as 'instead of fixing the flow of imagination it keeps it in flux' (Gombrich). It records the unfolding of an event, not the fixed reality of an object. Drawing is a dialogue between our thoughts and our experience of the real; it has always been aligned with thinking and ideas, rather than with representing the appearance of objects, it has as much to do with reflection as with observation.
The fragmentary nature of the images reflects that although we live a linear existence, what we currently experience is altered by memories and expectations, our present being created by these absent moments.
The obvious time and effort spent on these beautifully precise drawings, is integral to the reading of the work, reflecting on the connections between a repetitive act and creative energy in all aspects of our lives.
I draw what I know and experience not just what I see. These are not drawings from life, but drawings of life; drawing the relation between the visible and the invisible.
"The senses of emotional uncertainty, of time evaporating and of forgotten memories in Kirsty's drawings are made all the more powerful by the beautiful and precise execution of the images. Kirsty explains: "I explore the spaces we exist in, both physical and psychological. I use the real landscape which surrounds me as a metaphor for my inner life of imagination and emotion; these are not drawings from life, but drawings of life; drawing the relation between the visible and the invisible." Visual Art Trader, Artist of the month, March 2012
www.kirstyolearyleeson.tumblr.com
www.facebook.com/artistkirstyolearyleeson
Qualifications and training
- 2011 First Class honours Degree, Fine Art, Norwich University College of the Arts, Norwich
- 1991 Illustration, Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design, Bournemouth
Employment
- 2012 Art Teacher Part time, Sheringham High School and IV Form Centre, Sheringham, Norfolk
- 2012 Part time Art Teacher, Sheringham High School, Sheringham, Norfolk
Solo exhibitions
- 2012 Kirsty O'Leary-Leeson: Contemporary Drawings, Nicholson Gallery, Gresham's, Holt, Norfolk
- 2012 Kirsty O'leary-Leeson, Norwich Playhouse, Norwich
- 2012 Contemporary Drawings, The Assembly House, Hobart Room, Norwich
Group exhibitions
- 2013 Natural Selection: Chelsea Fringe, Espacio Gallery, London E2 7DG
- 2013 After The Monet, The Coningsby Gallery, London W1T 4RJ
- 2013 State of The Art, The Hobart Gallery, Blickling Hall, Blickling Hall National Trust, Nr Aylsham, Norfolk
- 2012 Elements, The Quad, Derby, DE1 3AS
- 2012 Norfolk Contemporary Arts 2012, The Forum, Norwich
- 2012 NCA12, Norfolk Contemporary Arts Society, The Forum, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2012 Cambridge Artworks Open, Cambridge Artworks, Cambridge
- 2012 Savorr VII, Savorr, 1 Westlegate, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2012 Art and The Coast; in Association with The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, Mundsley Church Rooms /The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, Mundsley
- 2012 Show Me The Monet Exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London
- 2012 Show Me The Monet Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London (more info)
- 2012 Fields of Vision: Landscapes Past and Present, Orleans Gallery, Twickenham, London
- 2012 Fields of Vision: Landscapes Past and Present, Orleans Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ, Twickenham (more info)
- 2011 Brinkmanship (Drawing exhibition), Norfolk Contemporary Arts Society, Rocket House, Cromer
- 2011 Facing Hard Times, Out of the Box Curators, Greyfriars Art Space, Kings Lynn
- 2011 Elements: Material Worlds, Norfolk Contemporary Arts Society, The Forum, Norwich
- 2010 Emergence, Unit 5 Project Space, Norwich
- 2010 Panamama, Stew Gallery, Norwich
- 2010 Print and New Media, Nicholson Gallery, Greshams, Holt, Norfolk
- 2010 Shades of Grey, Stew Gallery, Norwich
- 2009 Impulse Response, NUCA Gallery, Norwich
Artist talks
- 2011 Elements: Material Worlds, NCAS, The Forum, Norwich
Workshops
- 2013 Team-building art workshops for adults, YMCA Norwich, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2012 Drawing Workshop: 2 afternoons, North Walsham Junior School, North Walsham, Norfolk
- 2012 Drawing Workshops, 8 workshops over 4 days, Cromer Junior School, Cromer
- 2012 Artist in Residence for Arts Week; 4 days, 8 drawing workshops, Cromer Junior School, Cromer
Private commissions
- 2013 Stealing The Light From The Sun III, private collection, New York
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2013 Juried select Winner (drawing category), Artslant, Web
- 2012 Show Me The Monet (programme to be aired May/June), BBC 2, London
- 2011 Saatchi Drawing Showdown: Finalist, Saatchi.com, Online
- 2009 Shortlisted for the John Riches Drawing Award, Norwich University College of the Arts, Norwich
Educational experience - primary
- 2012 Artist in Residence for Arts Week; 4 days, 8 drawing workshops, Cromer Junior School, Cromer, Norfolk
- 2010 Drawing workshops, Corpusty Primary School, Norfolk
Educational experience - secondary
- 2011 Visiting Artist, Sheringham High School and Sixth Form Centre, Sheringham
Other
- 2012 Show Me The Monet (programme to be aired May/June), BBC 2, London
- 2012 Artist of the month (March 2012), Visual Art Trader, www.visualarttrader.co.uk
- 2011 Dialogues Symposium, Norwich University College of the Arts, Norwich
- 2010 Dialogues Symposium, Norwich University College of the Arts, Norwich
- 2010 The Improbable - Presentation, Wysing Arts Centre, Wysing Nr Cambridge
Web links - article/press
Personal website
