ABOUT LEILA T GRIFFITH
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My mother was an artist who studied with Lamar Dodd at the University of Georgia, and she encouraged me to pursue my creativity from a young age. As a child, I took jewelry, painting and drawing, ceramics, and printmaking classes at the University of Georgia and Memphis Academy of Art. When I was 15, I was the youngest participant in a juried art exhibit at the Memphis Academy of Art. I went on to study painting and drawing at Georgia State University in Atlanta but being a cash-strapped student with no discipline, I took a menial job at a mail order company. This began my long career of merchandising and product development for catalogs and was a departure from my individual art exploration. When I was approached by the director of the new The Bascom, A Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, NC, I was hired to plan, merchandise, staff, and manage the gallery gift shop of exclusive local and regional artworks. It was then that my personal love and need for art and the world of art was rekindled.
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Artist Statement
While I took a decades long break from practicing my own art, my interest in and love of art of all subjects, periods, media, and locations never subsided. Whether traveling to exotic and historic locations, exploring out of the main stream locales, or just moving around my home base, I am always searching for subjects or vignettes that invite me in and visually inspire me. I am particularly drawn to nature, living things, and domestic animals (my muse Twiggy is occasionally a part of my compositions).
Many of the juried exhibits I participate in have a theme. These often motivate me to combine subjects from conflicting or unrelated sources, thus adding depth and perhaps intrigue to my overall visual depictions. Having a background in creative writing as well as visual art, I love a good story. As in a written document/manuscript, it is my desire that observers are not just entertained but moved by images that evoke feelings, memories, experiences, and even cultural adventures.
In the past I have worked with acrylics but I am most happy using oils to explore and showcase my creativity. My pieces are almost always representational, and I often work from my drawings and photographs which can inspire several iterations before completion. I enjoy color in nature and life, and so it usually shows up in my paintings.
Many of the juried exhibits I participate in have a theme. These often motivate me to combine subjects from conflicting or unrelated sources, thus adding depth and perhaps intrigue to my overall visual depictions. Having a background in creative writing as well as visual art, I love a good story. As in a written document/manuscript, it is my desire that observers are not just entertained but moved by images that evoke feelings, memories, experiences, and even cultural adventures.
In the past I have worked with acrylics but I am most happy using oils to explore and showcase my creativity. My pieces are almost always representational, and I often work from my drawings and photographs which can inspire several iterations before completion. I enjoy color in nature and life, and so it usually shows up in my paintings.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS2024
APR 2024 - Floribunda, Cork Arts District, Jacksonville, FL 32204 MAR 2024 - In the Style of, TAC Gallery, Jacksonville, Fl 32202 MAR 2024 - Our Home, The Happy Medium Cafe and Bookstore, Jacksonville, Fl 32205 MAR 2024 - Patterns, Northpoint Gallery, Alta Dr, Jacksonville Fl JAN 2024 - New Beginnings, TAC Gallery, Downtown Jacksonville, Fl 32202 2023 DEC 2023 - Winter in the South, The Jacksonville Main Library, Downtown Jacksonville, Fl NOV 2023 - Patterns, TAC Gallery, Downtown Jacksonville, FL SEP 2023 - Solo Show at SOGLO Gallery, Brunswick, GA JUL 2023 - The Written Word, The Jacksonville Public Library Main Gallery, Jacksonville, FL JUN 2023 - Summer Delights, TAC Gallery, Downtown Jacksonville, FL APR 2023 - RAP Art House, Jacksonville, FL APR 2023 - Bold Statements, TAC Gallery, Downtown, Jacksonville, FL MAR 2023 - Wild Things, TAC Gallery, Downtown Jacksonville, Fl 2022 DEC 2022 - Love of Life and Art, Vandroff Gallery, Jewish Community Alliance, Jacksonville, Fl NOV 2022 - Art at the Fair, Jacksonville, Fl AUG 2022 - First Place Winner "Masks" TAC Gallery San Marco, Jacksonville, Fl AUG 2022 - "Our Florida" The Jacksonville Public Library Downtown Gallery, Jacksonville, Fl JUN 2022 - "Jacksonville, Past and Present" the Jacksonville Public Library Downtown Gallery, Jacksonville, Fl MAY 2022 - "The Way I See It" TAC Gallery San Marco, Jacksonville, Fl MAY 2022 - "RAP Garden Tour, Pein Air" Jacksonville, Fl APR 2022 - "RAP Art House" Jacksonville, Fl |
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MAR 2022 - "Generations" Karpeles Manuscript Library, Jacksonville, Fl
JAN 2022 - "In Flight" The Art Center Cooperative, Inc Gallery, Jacksonville, Fl
NOV 2021 - "Gaining a Post Pandemic Awareness", Karpeles Manuscript Library, Jacksonville, Fl
OCT 2021 - "Autumn Leaves" (Honorable Mention) The Art Center Cooperative, Inc, Jacksonville, Fl
AUG 2021 - "Chocolate" (Third Place) The Art Center Cooperative, Inc. Jacksonville, Fl
AUG 2021 - "Quiet Moments", Bethel Gallery Palm Presbyterian Church, Ponte Vedra, Fl
MAY 2021 - "Painting in the Park", Riverside Avondale Preservation Garden Tour, Jacksonville, Fl
JUNE 2021 - "Sunshine in the South", Jewish Community Alliance, Jacksonville, Fl
JUNE 2021 - "ART-iFacts", Sky Gallery - Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville, Fl
JAN 2022 - "In Flight" The Art Center Cooperative, Inc Gallery, Jacksonville, Fl
NOV 2021 - "Gaining a Post Pandemic Awareness", Karpeles Manuscript Library, Jacksonville, Fl
OCT 2021 - "Autumn Leaves" (Honorable Mention) The Art Center Cooperative, Inc, Jacksonville, Fl
AUG 2021 - "Chocolate" (Third Place) The Art Center Cooperative, Inc. Jacksonville, Fl
AUG 2021 - "Quiet Moments", Bethel Gallery Palm Presbyterian Church, Ponte Vedra, Fl
MAY 2021 - "Painting in the Park", Riverside Avondale Preservation Garden Tour, Jacksonville, Fl
JUNE 2021 - "Sunshine in the South", Jewish Community Alliance, Jacksonville, Fl
JUNE 2021 - "ART-iFacts", Sky Gallery - Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville, Fl
