Big break for Thurso artist
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LEAH Davis has not even graduated from art school and a major international gallery is already featuring her work.
The Thurso-born student is studying for a contemporary art and contextualised practice degree at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness and was chosen to exhibit at a major gallery in the United States.
"Myself and another Highland artist, Michael Forbes, have been chosen to exhibit at a gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico," Leah said.
She was chosen out of 700 submissions from more than 200 artists for the prestigious show in KEEP Contemporary Gallery called The New Vanguard: Explorations into the New Contemporary.
"It's really big for a beginner artist from Thurso like myself. To be chosen out of over 200 applicants as part of this exhibition in Santa Fe has just blown me away – I cried when I found out I had been chosen."
Last October, Leah had her first solo show at a gallery in Inverness. You're so Weird addressed issued of "personal acceptance" and how "people are judged based on ambiguous information".
This time around Leah is exhibiting as part of a mixed show and submitted two pieces of work.
"The two pieces of work I sent away to the gallery were images created around the times where I was taking a break from the usual emotionally darker themed or autobiographical/personal work I usually focus on."
Leah said her main influences for the current work were cult classic films and pop culture from her childhood.
"I wanted to try something less emotionally intense and give myself a break from scrutinising every experience or issue I feel I have," she said.
"As therapeutic as they have been, it can be extremely mentally draining."
Leah says that the genre her work fits within would be best described as "pop surreal".
"They were fun to make and fit the unconventional style KEEP gallery is looking for.
"The gallery director, Jared Trujillo, has stated that he will be choosing several of the exhibitors to be part of KEEP’s constant stable of artists.
"I am just keeping my fingers crossed I am one of the artists he chooses."
KEEP founder Jared Antonio-Justo Trujillo draws from local talent and beyond, offering an "accessible, no-gimmicks platform" to many underground artists who have a limited voice in an otherwise conservative art market.
Leah thought she would have no chance of getting picked for the show and said she nearly didn't bother entering
"The other artists exhibiting are so talented, including my favourite artist, Michael Forbes," she said. "I have been lucky enough to have Michael mentor me in my art journey, and he was the person who encouraged me to enter the competition.
The young artist said she feels "gutted" she can't go to the opening in Santa Fe on February 21, however.
"I unfortunately can’t make it to the opening as I am in my honours year of an art degree. I’m busy with course work and frantically trying to create art for our final degree show in May."
For more information visit Leah’s website at http://leahdavis.co.uk
