Mixed Media
Leah Mariani
Leah Mariani is a Melbourne-based artist making artwork about women. Her artworks explore the portrayal of womanhood in popular culture.rn
Artist Profile
Leah Mariani is a Melbourne-based artist making artwork about women. Her artworks explore the portrayal of womanhood in popular culture.
Leah is an award-winning artist, having won 2 awards and being shortlisted for many prestigious awards, including the Marie Ellis Drawing Prize, Lethbridge 10,000 Small-Scale Art Award, Hornsby Art Prize, Agendo Award, and the Metro Art Prize. She has been featured in Yen Magazine, Desktop Magazine, and others.
In 2019 she completed a Graduate Certificate of Visual Art at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Before that, she completed a Diploma of Visual Arts at Box Hill Institute.
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I use a mixture of mediums. I use acrylic for the backgrounds because it's fast drying and quick. I use oils for the face, hands and other parts of the body. I like oils because they're slow drying and it allows me time to move the paint around until I am happy with the finer details.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
Each series or body of work is focused on a slightly different subject or theme. I first do some reading and then write about the theme, exploring the meaning I am trying to convey. Although slightly different, each series focuses on identity and people. I believe human connection is the most important thing in life and you can see that coming through in my work.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
I work out of my home studio in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, where I live with my husband, two sons, and my dog.
Career Highlights
- Artist residency in France (2023)
- Winning Unearthed Artist of year, at Art to Art Gallery (2020)
- Studying at VCA (2019)
