Leah Brideson

Leah’s art practice began in her early childhood. As a self taught artist, Leah paved her own way in rediscovering and sharing her identity after constantly being told she was ‘too white to be Aboriginal’. She created a visual way to say the words that were going unheard.

Leah refers to her arts practice as ‘visual yarns’; illustrated stories and conversations, connecting people with cultural practices and landscapes, gently hinting nuances of activism and a vehicle for voicing culture, Country and connection.

Key themes in Leah’s work are of connecting with and protecting Country, healing, empowering her own cultural identity and rediscovering her Ancestral ways. Leah’s work reflects who she is, her relationship with herself and her identity through a First Nations lens. Leah’s signature ‘cracked earth’ style developed from time spent observing the landscape on her Country symbolizes culture as interconnected with Country, and the space in between as rich and deep in history and story. Journey lines through Leah’s work acknowledge connection, relationships and pathways of learning, rediscovering and healing.

Leah has always felt inspired and somewhat overstimulated by the art in the natural environment, particularly the colour gradients, patterns and textures through different seasons and times of the day. The changing landscapes in Leah’s hometown, on Country and from her journeys to ocean Country and beyond sing to her and she interprets the art and story of these diverse and timeless cultural landscapes throughout her work. Leah paints the landscape with dense layers of fine dotting, Aboriginal symbolism and abstract patterning, whilst amalgamating gradients of colour, size and texture to make her work pulsate and move beyond the edges, creating a feeling of being on Country.

Leah’s paintings often work through different perspectives and connect both contemporary and traditional ways of cultural mapping. She explores traditional designs and mediums and blend these ideas with her contemporary identity. Leah continues to read and discover her Ancestors footprints as she journeys through the physical and spiritual landscape.

Leah asks viewers to take time in connecting with her art, as if they are out connecting with Country and to rediscover culture and Country through a contemporary First Nations lens.