artist statement

 

I am an assemblage artist, painter, and visual artist. American by birth; nine-years amidst the Swiss Alps equally informs my work.

 

Today, I redefine play by using found objects to transform childhood memories into wondrous worlds in a box. The totems of my assemblage juxtapose mysterious narrative with interactive engagement.   Similar motifs from the mechanical (tinkering and kinetic movement), to the metaphoric (dreams, wishes, lies) are explored across all my mediums. In each piece, a brief vignette triggers viewer participation while bringing different worlds to life. It also prompts reflection upon the wonders of the eternal child-within.

 

My art explores possibilities and opposing forces. In Once Upon a Prince dreams vie with potential loss; in For Fast-Track Husbands and Side-Tracked Wives actions have consequences; and with The Naked Gun craftiness digs its own grave. With painting, my portraits display a tenderness and reverence for my subjects.

 

Since childhood, I’ve tinkered with every material and found object that came my way.  A seminal moment came in my teens. I saw a photo in LIFE magazine, featuring a box that was different from any box I had ever seen. The caption said “Medici Prince” by Joseph Cornell. Mesmerized by Cornell’s strange, fabulous construction, I saw my own creations as a private connection to an inner world of tinkering fueled by curiosity and wit. 

 

For thirty years, I explored these themes as a teacher and parent, inspiring kids to become lifelong learners. Creativity ruled the classroom. Art was always the through-line. The same credo guides me today as an artist.

 

"There are no rules on what or how to create. There is no one saying you can't do that, it's too crazy or we already tried 'that' before.  There is only imagination, the everyday materials of life, and our willingness to explore them." 

 

Selected group exhibitions include the Santa Monica Art Studios in Santa Monica, California, and the Kline Academy of Fine Art in Los Angeles. My portraits come from seven years of study with Master Teacher & Artist Cheryl Kline. In all other mediums, I’m self-taught.

 

Experience the artistic alchemy at www.lesliemargolisart.com.