Photo with much thanks to 藤田麻里
About the artist
Leonie is a mixed-media artist whose practice combines several forms of painting, drawing, printing and collage. Her work is strongly informed by Japanese aesthetics, philosophy, and traditional craft techniques; which she honed during a sabbatical in Kyoto in 2025/2026.
Before moving into artistic practice, she conducted postgraduate research in ecology and evolution, and later finished a PhD in genetics and archaeology at the University of Oxford.
Drawing on a background spanning science, nature, diplomacy and cross-cultural study, her work explores themes of identity, connection and transformation, through a visual language that balances academic, cultural, and philosophical themes.
Influenced by Japanese concepts of seasonality, material awareness, and quiet observation, her work often focuses on symbolic subjects. Her training in chadō (Japanese tea ceremony) further informs the sense of restraint, balance, and attentiveness present throughout her practice.
