Meet the artist: Leigh Suggs

Q. Tell us about your creative process and how it's evolved.

A. A huge change for me was graduate school. I used to work for a design firm, and was working some pretty hefty hours with serious responsibility. I was giving 80% of my time to that, and only 10-15% to my art – and had hardly any time for myself. During and after grad school, I realized how much progress I could make by giving the majority of my time to my art. Since then, my process has drifted and shifted.

Q. What inspirations have come into your latest works and palettes?

A. I will always work with blue. It is such a comforting color to me, with so many personal meanings. I love rediscovering its complexities and pleasantries.

My family just traveled to Rome – and my husband and I took a weekend trip to Tuscany. We explored several small towns in Val D’Orcia. I mean, the whole trip was amazing, but my favorite part was just looking at all of the different colors of green rolling and undulating. Needless to say, green has been on my mind. 

I also have been very interested in “glitch” and the idea of a sudden disruption. I tend to be a little too controlled and ordered with my work, so I’m trying to let “chance” or “glitch” happen – which is still a form of control, I know!  Nonetheless, I’m trying to loosen up a bit more and let go of the idea of perfection. 

Q. When was the first time a work of art affected you? What was it?

A. I don’t know if I can recall the first – but one that has lasted with me is an Ellsworth Kelly at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The piece called Blue Panel, 1980 is something between a parallelogram, a trapezoid and an isosceles trapezoid – frankly I’m not sure what it is because it changes every time I have seen it. It's one of those pieces that is so simple in execution but gives me such a visceral reaction. The juxtaposition of those two things has greatly influenced my work.

Q. Other than the genre you work in, what other types of art do you most enjoy?

A. I like to think I ride the borders of several different genres of art. I draw, I paint, I sculpt, and I am very interested in materials - which typically lends itself to craft. I’ve spent the last several years questioning what “genre” I fit into, and I still don’t have an answer – and I’m ok with that! I’m influenced by all types of art – from Inca quipus to contemporary video art.

Q. Do you personally collect, and if so what and why?

A. Yes, I have a small collection – mostly from trades or purchases from friends or art auctions – but all because I just loved the work. The network of people I have met through traveling, teaching, and just being immersed in an artist community have been fruitful. I love having a personal story that’s connected to the work. There are so many amazing artists out there who are underrepresented or just starting out in their careers. It’s so important to support them!

Q. What would be in your ideal art collection?

A. In addition to what I already have, and if money was no object, I would love to own that Ellsworth Kelly – any Ellsworth Kelly for that matter. And a Bridget Riley. And a Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian. And a Yayoi Kusama infinity room for my viewing only.

View Leigh's full bio and available pieces at the gallery here.