Chelsea’s Agora Gallery will feature the original work of Squamish artist Leilani in Forms and Formalities. Agora Gallery opens its doors for public viewing of this exhibition on April 1st with a reception on Thursday April 7, from 6pm to 8pm. 
Nature in all its forms is the inspiration for Leilani’s paintings. From a close-up look at a snow leopard’s eyes to sweeping views of mountainous landscapes, her images bring the natural world to life in sharp detail, making an immediate connection with the viewer. “My style is to idealize and to simplify,” she says, “using bright colors and a bold approach.” The deceptive simplicity of her images can be seen in her use of basic lines and shapes, capturing the arc of an ocean wave or the stripes across a zebra’s body with a strong clarity. Having worked as a graphic designer, Leilani has transformed the skills of that craft into an expressive technique that finds the essence of each subject.
Leilani’s approach to color is also a major contributor to the effect of her paintings. Adept at balancing complementary tones to create a sense of depth and space, she also uses contrast between light and dark to give her paintings a feeling of movement and drama. The resulting images reflect what Leilani calls “the positive and the beauty in the world.”
Carol Grolman says
Congratulations, Leilani. You must be very proud…as you should be!