Artist Spotlight: Paige Ledom

In this Q&A, Paige Ledom shares her creative journey—one that began with frustration and evolved into playful exploration, ultimately leading her to the world of cut-paper collage. Join us as she reflects on finding clarity, embracing the winding path of an artistic career, and a few gallery artists she admires. Plus Paige is one of our newest LLGD artists–give her a big virtual hug!

As a child, I enjoyed spending time alone creating whatever came to mind. Scripts for plays, writing and illustrating little books with characters born in my imagination, designing a dream room in a tattered notebook with the spirals starting to stick out straight. I always knew I wanted to do something that allowed me to chase more of this feeling daily, as much as possible. It's the feeling of play, really.

After leaving University, I hated everything I was making. I know that's a strong word, but it's how I felt. Yet, I would continue to show up and try, hoping one day I would feel differently. I desperately wanted to identify as a painter, because many of the artists I admired were painters. I felt like a failure because when I painted, what resulted on the canvas didn't feel like a mirror to who I was inside. I realized something needed to change and I needed to play and find the fun in my art again. That's when I began cutting up paint swatches as well as other materials I had lying around, and fell in love with creating again. That is when I made the switch to being a cut-paper collage artist.

Coffee comes first! The rest depends on what stage I am in my process. If I am in idea mode or the early phases of a work, I require music to get me in the rhythm of things. If I am in the middle or later stages of a piece, I like to listen to podcasts because it's more about the rote work involved in finishing the art.

My path to get here was a bit of the winding, crooked kind. I taught art for 5 years, then I pursued interior decorating and selling vintage goods after that. My own art was always present during these moments, but I realized piling on these other titles was a way of distracting myself from what I wanted deep down, which was to be a career artist. In 2024, I made my art my main focus. It's the first time I felt clarity in a while. I still face challenges, but they feel worthwhile because they're all on the path I want to be on. Selling my art affords me the time to do more of what I love, which is- make more art!

Can I say all of them?! Ahh, but to name a few in particular- I love the loose organic shapes in Bekah Worley's pieces, the mark making of AK Hardeman's work, and the use of light and shadow in Kevin Brent Morris's beatle paintings.

Paige’s pieces are truly magical in person, and she’ll be unveiling new work at our March 21st Show (Ordinary objects). Join Paige’s Presale List for first dibs!