Name:
Kit Leffler
City/State: Minneapolis, MN
Email: kitleffler.photo at gmail.com
Website: www.kitleffler.com
Bio~
City/State: Minneapolis, MN
Email: kitleffler.photo at gmail.com
Website: www.kitleffler.com
Bio~
Kit
Leffler is a Minneapolis based artist. Leffler’s work often
considers authenticity, binary thought, the absorption of
truth, and the nuance of self. Taking inspiration from her occupation
in a science laboratory at the University of Minnesota, Leffler’s
work often implements the scientific method, anatomical imagery, and
biological narratives. Leffler received her MFA in Printmaking from
Edinburgh College of Art (2011) and a BFA in Expanded Media Arts from
the University of Kansas (2007).
Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
I
am currently working a series of drawings that consider
“self” through playful illustrations of personal iconography. I
have recently read Stiff
by Mary Roach, and was terribly inspired by the myriad ways in which
our ‘selves’ [bodies] are implemented after death. By considering
death & the human figure in this way, it was natural to then
consider self in a living creature through a similar more analytical
process.
In
addition to this inspiration, I have recently undergone foot surgery
and have been brought to consider my physical self in a new way:
albeit temporarily. To summarize, the body and the nuance of human
nature are on my mind; the result is a much more personal body of
work than I have previously endeavoured.
In
the past, I have worked primarily within the media of printmaking.
Duration and process - integral elements of the printmaking - allow
for alteration, growth, and evolution of imagery as the work is
completed. These new drawings feel much more vulnerable: the imagery
comes straight out… there’s me, and there’s a great expanse of
white paper, and there’s no fixing errors… you have to live with
what you get.
How
did you decide to become an artist?
I
have been enamoured with visuals for as long as I can remember. I
grew up taking photos on my mom’s Minolta camera, and I have pretty
spectacular vision – 15/20 -which I tend to brag about on occasion.
My teenage self was drawn to biology and journalism: drawing anatomy,
photographing sports, dissecting various mammals in anatomy class,
capturing people in motion…I wasn’t really sure where to put all
of these interests, occupationally. When I was just 17, I began
working as a freelance photojournalist for the Kansas City Star. I
had the idea that I could be a National Geographic Photographer. This
seemed like a good fit for a while, but I ultimately wanted more
freedom in the visuals I created and was inspired by. Subsequently I
switched my major to Expanded Media in undergrad… this was the
least genre-specifc of the visual arts majors. At that point the idea
of being an “artist” stuck, though I don’t know if I really
self-identified as an artist until later in my career.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
My
sister once told me to live so that you don’t have regrets. There
have been countless times in which an opportunity I didn’t think I
was even at all qualified for has opened up because I threw my hat in
the ring. It’s something like this – if you don’t
do such and such thing, will you regret
it? I implement this way of thought in all aspects of my life, but it
has most informed my continuous interest and tenacity in being an
artist.
Many
artists struggle to find ways to sell their art. How do you
sell your work? How do you market yourself?
In
the past I have freelanced, sold artwork on Etsy, exhibited in
unconventional venues, and marketed my work on my website. At this
point in my career, I am most interested in expressing myself, and
creating work that I want to make. It is more important to me to have
a conversation at an opening, or via email, etc. about my work than
to sell the work. Of course, it is
nice when someone wants to buy something! However, my gratification
in the work comes not by sales but by cerebral interactions. I’ve
been lucky to find a job which I enjoy and which I don’t take home
with me emotionally.
Who
are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy?
Jamie
Kinroy https://jamiekinroy.wordpress.com/
Rachel
James http://rachelsuzannejames.com/home.html
Angelena
Luckeroth http://dalejearnhartuner.blogspot.com/
Dietrich
Sieling http://bockleygallery.com/artist_sieling/index.html
Josh
Winkler http://www.joshkwinkler.com/
Edie
Overturf http://edieoverturf.com/
Julia
Maiuri http://www.juliamaiuri.com/
If
I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places
would we go? What would we see?
I
would probably take a visitor to a variety of art galleries and also
to LegUp studio in the Casket arts building to see art in the Twin
Cities. I’d also take someone to a performance at the Bedlam,
Hearth of the Beast, or Open Eye Figure Theater… I’ve worked
within the world of puppetry in Minneapolis and I think this is a
very important element of our city’s culture.
Leg
Up Studios http://legupstudio.com/home.html
House
of Balls http://houseofballs.com/
Public
Functionary http://publicfunctionary.org/
David
Petersen Gallery http://davidpetersengallery.com/
Bockley
Gallery http://www.bockleygallery.com/
Open
Eye Figure Theater http://www.openeyetheatre.org/
Bedlam http://bedlamtheatre.org/
Highpoint
Studios http://highpointprintmaking.org/
In
addition to www.Local-Artist-Interviews.com, where do you go online
for good art resources, whether to find a new artist, or to see what
is going on in the art world locally and otherwise?
L’etoile http://www.letoilemagazine.com/
MN
Artists http://www.mnartists.org/
Springboard
for the arts http://springboardforthearts.org/
Do
you have any exhibits to promote in the near future?
Yes, I’m showing my newest group of work at the Southern Gallery & Lobby from March 14- May 1st, 2015.
Yes, I’m showing my newest group of work at the Southern Gallery & Lobby from March 14- May 1st, 2015.
ˈēɡō
- New
Work by Kit Leffler
Altered Esthetics is pleased to present a group of new drawings from Minneapolis-based artist Kit Leffler. Taking inspiration from her occupation in a science laboratory at the University of Minnesota, Leffler asks the viewer to consider “self” through playful illustrations of personal iconography. Themes in the work are inspired by the writings of Mary Roach, the illustrations of Andreas Vesalius, and Leffler’s own experience with anxiety disorder. Through this visual analysis Leffler creates a world in which the nuance and indefinable essence of self can be analyzed candidly and with oblique humor.
Altered Esthetics is pleased to present a group of new drawings from Minneapolis-based artist Kit Leffler. Taking inspiration from her occupation in a science laboratory at the University of Minnesota, Leffler asks the viewer to consider “self” through playful illustrations of personal iconography. Themes in the work are inspired by the writings of Mary Roach, the illustrations of Andreas Vesalius, and Leffler’s own experience with anxiety disorder. Through this visual analysis Leffler creates a world in which the nuance and indefinable essence of self can be analyzed candidly and with oblique humor.
The exhibition
opening is from 5:30 -7 PM on Saturday March 14.
Southern Theaterhttp://southerntheater.org/
1420 S Washington Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Kit Leffler
Image
List:
1.
The Tongue of the Soul, 18x24”, Feb. 2015
2.
Procession with Worldly Belongings, 22x30”, Jan. 2015
3.
Agro Agoraphobia: I Don’t Do Crowds, 22x30”, Feb. 2015
4.
Image of Artist – Kit Leffler
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