Soliloquy, a solo exhibition of new work by Los Angeles-based artist Leigh Salgado, is currently on view at LAUNCH LA (through 5/4). Salgado’s current body of work continues to present her experiences and perceptions of “femininity.” The title of the show, Soliloquy, reflects the experience of merging personal experiences with public memory to present a series of unspoken reflections. This Saturday, April 27, Salgado will be in conversation with artist Gary Brewer about her work. The talk will take place 3:30-5PM.
In a career that spans three decades, Salgado’s labor-intensive process involves cutting paper by hand with an exacto knife. This meticulous attention to detail and layering creates texture and dimensionality to the surface. Altering monotypes with cutting, painting and the addition of eyelets or fasteners, each of the works draws a resemblance to a range of readymade objects: bustiers, underwear, lace, corsets, netting, fabrics, metal and other articles of clothing. Salgado also incorporates pattern in stripes, flags and geometric shapes as a contrast to the floral motifs of her objects. The resulting compositions are complex and varied in both color and line. Salgado’s work is sometimes labeled Sculpted Drawing because the medium brings a third dimension into pictorial space without compromising the elements of drawing.
Through recognizable forms and her elevation of what was considered craft-based art, Salgado investigates ideas of the feminine as an act of female empowerment. Playful, witty, and intricate, these works communicate a wide array of emotions and ideas of gender, identity, culture and beauty. At the heart of her work is the idea of adornment for the fulfillment of self, a soliloquy to your inner being.
Salgado studied painting, sculpture and graphic arts at UCLA and continued her art studies at the former Santa Monica College of Design, Art & Architecture. Among her many solo shows: LAUNCH LA Gallery, MOAH (The Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, California), Patricia Correia Gallery, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
