Power and Poise

Leigh was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967 and is the youngest of four children. “I was definitely the most rebellious child in the family,” Leigh says. She discovered clay in college and then moved to New York City, where she worked at a ceramics supply store, made tiles for Brooklyn subway stations, held temp jobs, and eventually began teaching art. “I loved, loved, loved teaching art to children,” she recalls.

Leigh didn’t begin showing her artwork until 2001, and the art world overlooked her for years after that. “I was told by everyone I knew in ceramics there was no way I would ever be included in the contemporary art space,” she says. But when critics did notice her, success came quickly, with exhibitions at important museums in New York City and Los Angeles.

Leigh was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967. She began exploring clay in college. When she moved to New York City, she worked at a ceramics supply store, made tiles for train stations, and taught art. “I loved, loved, loved teaching art to children,” she says.

Leigh began showing her art in 2001, but she was overlooked for many years. When critics finally noticed her, she quickly became successful. Leigh showed her work in exhibits at important museums in New York City and Los Angeles.

In 2022, Leigh made history by becoming the first Black female artist to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale. This important art festival occurs in Venice, Italy, every two years. It’s often called the “Olympics of the art world,” where artists from around the globe show their best work.

At the Biennale, Leigh presented many powerful works, including a portrait called Sharifa, above. The 2022 sculpture depicts one of the artist’s friends, American writer Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts.

Leigh hand-builds the portrait in the photo at the top of the page, capturing her subject’s likeness. The final sculpture is larger-than-life. How does this artistic choice emphasize the writer’s importance?

In 2022, Leigh became the first Black woman to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale. This important art festival occurs in Venice, Italy, every two years. It’s often called the “Olympics of the art world.” Artists from around the world show their best work there.

Leigh presented powerful works at the event, including a portrait, Sharifa, above. The 2022 sculpture shows American writer Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts. Leigh hand-builds the portrait in the photo at the top of the page. The final sculpture is larger-than-life. How does this size demonstrate the writer’s importance?

Leigh explores issues of power, visibility, and representation, especially for Black women. “I am charting a history of change and adaptation through objects and gesture and the unstoppable forward movement of Black women,” she says.

Leigh adds raffia—a material frequently used in African architecture—to her 2016 sculpture Untitled V, above. It hangs where the subject’s shoulders would be, relating architecture to a female figure. What connections does Leigh make by combining these forms?

Untitled V and Leigh’s 2022 Sphinx, below, both lack eyes, which makes the faces seem anonymous. The artist is experimenting with the idea of seeing and being seen and, more broadly, who is visible in the arts. Sphinx echoes the form and name of the ancient Egyptian Sphinx. By using this easily recognizable form, Leigh claims her place within art’s long history, as if quietly daring art historians to look away.

Leigh explores Black women’s power and how they are represented in art. She is also interested in recording history through objects. In her 2016 sculpture Untitled V above, Leigh uses ceramic and raffia to depict a woman. Raffia is a material often used in African architecture. In this work, it hangs where the subject’s shoulders would be. What connections does Leigh make by using raffia in this ceramic work?

Leigh doesn’t include eyes in her Untitled V and 2022 Sphinx, below. The artist experiments with the idea of seeing and being seen. She asks questions about who is visible in the art world. Sphinx mirrors the form and name of the ancient Egyptian Sphinx. By using this recognizable form, Leigh reminds viewers of art’s long history and her place within it.