Leigh White,
Artist and Homeless Activist Southern California painter Leigh White channels her artistic observation into care and compassion and advocacy for those who experience injustice WRIT TEN BY CRISTINA DEPTUL A PHOTOGRAPHED BY LEIGH WHITE
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outhern California painter Leigh White’s st yles range from cubism to pop ar t to realism to impressionism.
“For sure, I use all the crayons in the crayon box , and that includes many styles depending on the subject and my mood. I get bored easily, so mixing things up is how I roll. And it ’s a good way to keep my skills comprehensive.”
TROORA MAGAZINE
White says that what unites all her work are the color palettes and lines.
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“I’m not afraid of color, and there’s a nice variety in my lines. I enjoy creating bold stripes as well as micro-fine lines as if they came from a neurosurgeon. The whole idea is to bring attention to the shapes.” VA R I O U S I N S P I R AT I O N S She’s drawn to painting por traits of those who have been wronged or forgotten. These include victims of racist killings such as Emmett Till and Breonna Taylor, and the unarmed homeless
man Kelly Thomas, who was wrongfully murdered by police in Fuller ton, California. “ When I’m painting por traits of real people, it ’s a deep dive, a ver y intimate thing. I spend a lot of time studying the faces and tr ying to understand their pain and joy. It ’s almost like a conversation, where I listen attentively to what these faces have to say to me. It ’s about respect and bringing for th authenticity and something new.” In her modern geometric pieces, she says she’s tr ying to understand the complexities of life in our capitalistic society and find ways to navigate it. That ’s why many of her geometric pieces have an industrial, architectural feel. Also, during the pandemic, she found herself painting landscapes and little wild birds. “I always thought landscapes were a waste of time. But with all that time at home on lockdown, I understand the need to create something where people can feel transported, nurtured, free, and soft.”
