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LEIGH WERRELL Transforming the Everyday into the Extraordinary Exploring emotion, ambiguity, and connection through painting and sculpture eigh Werrell’s art invites viewers the Fine Arts and represented by Gross McCleaf into a world where the ordinary Gallery, Werrell has established herself as a sig- transforms into the extraordinary, nificant voice in contemporary art. Her work has where the familiar is imbued with been featured in exhibitions at esteemed instituti- mystery, and where emotion is ons such as the Woodmere Art Museum, Cerulean Leigh Werrell discusses her artistic process, the emotional depth of her work, and how themes of ambiguity and connection shape her L paintings and three-dimensional creations. rendered in vivid, tactile form. Her work, Arts Gallery, and Bowery Gallery, among others. spanning painting and three-dimensional Her recent explorations into papier-mâché relief 42II WOWWART creations, is deeply personal yet univer- sally resonant, exploring themes of mental discord, nostalgia, and the unease of the unknown. Through her masterful use of color, luminescence, and texture, Werrell crafts narratives that are as much about what is hidden as what is revealed, encouraging viewers to bring their own interpretations to her evocative scenes. Her ability to balance ambiguity with emotional clarity makes her work both compelling and profoundly human. and sculptural elements demonstrate her fearless experimentation and commitment to pushing the boundaries of her practice. Leigh Werrell’s art is a testament to her ability to find beauty and meaning in the overlooked and the mundane, transforming them into poignant reflections of the human experience. How did your experience during the pandemic influence the themes and subjects in your recent work? Because my work is informed by my everyday experiences, the sense of openness, community A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of A“mbiguity draws people in and allows them to see a story that includes their own experience.” F