Leigh Ann Willar McDonagh (Gila Girl Art) Leicestershire, United Kingdom
I am a 'Liminalist' artist, an illustrator and a writer. My work is populated with a host of creatures, visions, beings and landscapes that enter this dimension through my hands. I am influenced by my connection with the natural, the imaginal, the spiritual and the supernatural worlds.
I work under my own name as well at that of Gila Girl Art. (www.gilagirlart.com) My personal connection to wilderness and wildness allows me to inhabit and journey through the liminal spaces between dreaming and waking, observing from the threshold of between worlds. I am an explorer of the multiverse.
I work primarily as a painter with oils on wood and canvas. I create textile sculpture and have also explored the use of sound and digital media in my practice. I am open to new ideas and interested in discussing potential new projects, commissions and exhibitions.
I hope to challenge boundaries, limits and perceptions through my work. I am particularly interested in fostering a deeper understanding of human relationship to the natural world and the spiritual realms.
I am an admirer of many mid 20th Century women artists made their own powerful voices heard in the midst of male-dominated art movements. Among them are Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, Georgia O'Keeffe and Dorothea Tanning. I am influenced not only by their work, but by their strength of character and enduring self-belief. Through their example, I find courage, conviction and inspiration - working with confidence as an artist who just happens to be an older woman.
Artwork
The Thunder Raven, oil on canvas, 2016, £600
Reciprocity, oil on canvas, 2017, £500
New Mexico Scene, oil on canvas, 2017, £500
The Original Gila Girl, watercolour and ink on paper, 2018, £100
Dragonhopper Caught in a Spiderweb, watercolour and ink on paper, 2018, £75
Disdainful Dog, watercolour and ink on paper, 2018, £75
Albertina Knew There Was Trouble at the Snozzlebirt Factory, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, £75
Herbert Snozzlebirt Wondered if it Was Too Late to Try Out for the Intergalactic Football League, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, £75
Darlene the Dancing Fawn, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, £75
Steven Snozzlebirt was Somewhat Bemused by the Situation, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, £75
Sidney Snozzlebirt was a No-Nonsense Kind of Guy, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, £75
Lady Beulah Montague Fitzroy, watercolour and ink on paper, 2018, £100
Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful, watercolour and ink on paper, 2018, £75
Carleen Caterbelle Began Her Long Walk Home, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, £75
Questioning The Nature Of Boundaries, oil on board, 2019, £500
Gila Girl is Growing Up, watercolour and ink on paper, 2019, $75
Source, oil on canvas, 2019, £100
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #1, oil on canvas, 2020, £200
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #2, oil on canvas, 2020, £200
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #3, oil on canvas, 2020, £200
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #4, oil on canvas, 2020, £200
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #5, oil on canvas, 2020, £200
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #6, oil on canvas, 2020, £200
Light Through Leaves Series, Summer, #7, oil on canvas, 2020, £250
Ghosts and Gold, oil on canvas, 2020, £400
Projects and exhibitions
| Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
BACKBONE - Older Women (A Response to the Photography of Shirley Baker)01/11/2018 — 11/11/2018 It takes courage, confidence, resilience and perseverance to be an older woman. It takes backbone. Shirley Baker captured more than the static image of the older women she photographed. She managed to convey the essence of these women through her work. In doing so she inspired each of us who were involved in the exhibition to enter into a... [Read more] |
Arcadia Gallery, Coventry Artspace Partnerships (curated by Anna Douglas), Coventry, U.K. | Details |
|
The Other Side of June19/06/2018 — 29/06/2018 Inaugural BA (Hons) Fine Art and Contemporary Cultures Degree Show |
Warwickshire College, Royal Leamington Spa, U.K. | Details |
|
A Tribute to Kate Bush07/08/2015 — 28/08/2015 Group show. Artists invited to produce work inspired by the music of Kate Bush in honour of her return to live performance in that year. My work was a collage in ink, paper and acrylic referencing "The Red Shoes." |
Ten Two Gallery, Hinckley, Leicesterhire, U.K. | Details |