Leonie Brown @ artavita

Leonie Brown

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Leonie has always had a natural talent for art, with her teachers in school often presuming that her parents were assisting her.

However, her artistic inclinations were rooted in personal trauma from her childhood. Determined to explore her creativity, Leonie pursued a Fine Art degree at Potchefstroom University, where she won numerous national awards, including the prestigious Volkskas (now ABSA) Atelier.

Leonie’s artistic journey has been marked by numerous achievements and recognition within the art world. From 1985 to 2023, she has participated in various international competitions, solo and group exhibitions, further solidifying her credibility and relevance. In 2023, Leonie was honoured to be featured as one of the Top 10 Artists by Artling and as a Featured Artist in Artsy Shark. Additionally, her talent has been celebrated through numerous accolades, including First Prize in the Potchefstroom Talent Festival (1986), the Volkskas Atelier (now ABSA) Winner of Painting Category (1985), the Gregoire Boonzaaier Art Bursary First Prize (1985), and placements in the top 10 nationally in the Total Exhibition for Young Artists (1986), among others.

After completing her studies, Leonie took a decade-long hiatus from painting as she focused on her own healing journey. It was during this time that she found the strength to overcome her trauma, eventually marrying a wonderfully supportive and understanding husband. Reinvigorated, Leonie returned to painting in 2000, diving back into her artistic practice with a newfound purpose.

“My art is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and forgiveness. As a survivor of complex PTSD and abuse, I’ve emerged from the shadows to create vivid, expressive works that serve as beacons of hope and vitality.”

“My canvases are battlegrounds of colour and texture, where thick impasto layers and bold brushstrokes fight against the invisible barriers of trauma. Each piece declares that life can be lived fully, without boundaries or fear.”

“My process is intuitive and physical—a dance of gestures with large brushes, palette knives, and mixed media that speaks directly to the soul.”

“I paint for those who have felt trapped behind glass walls, unable to experience the world’s touch fully. My art screams that it’s possible to shatter these barriers, to taste life’s flavors and feel its textures without reservation.”

“Through layers of cold wax, oils, ink, and Encaustics, I create windows into a world where past struggles become a source of strength. My work invites viewers to embrace life’s abundance, to find happiness in every stroke, and to smile in the face of adversity.”

“This is more than art—it’s a movement from death to life, a choice to be shaped not by our past, but by our potential. It’s an invitation to join me in a vibrant celebration of resilience, forgiveness, and the unbridled joy of existence.”

Leonie employs a diverse array of mixed media techniques to achieve depth, texture, and translucency in her work. Cold wax allows her to build up thick, tactile layers that invite viewers to experience the art through touch. Resin enables her to thin out pigments, resulting in luminous passages that reveal underlying truths. Gestural ink applications produce gossamer veils, hinting at the emergence of new life. This harmonious blend of materials and textures invites contemplation on the transformative power of art.

At the core of Leonie’s artistic practice is her personal philosophy rooted in positivity and forgiveness as pathways to an abundant life. Having faced her own struggles, she finds solace in creating narrative art and interacting with horses. Her work encourages others to reflect deeply on their life experiences while finding strength through self-expression and connection with the natural world. Leonie’s paintings embody the idea that adversity can give way to growth, healing, and a profound appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us.

from this copy:
Discover the raw emotion and depth of Leonie.e Brown's abstract art. This curated collection showcases a glimpse into her extensive body of work, featuring bold, expressive strokes and layers of rich, textured paint. Leonie's art is a visceral experience, inviting viewers to explore hidden depths within each canvas.

With a career spanning over two decades, she has garnered international recognition, including being named one of Artling's Top 10 Artists in 2023. Immerse yourself in a world of colour and texture as you explore these captivating pieces. Her artwork transcends the canvas, evoking emotions and inspiring all who encounter it.

Discover why she paints and immerse yourself in her exclusive art sales at www.lifeart.co.za.

Portfolio:

Abstract Art

ABSTRACT NARRATIVE ART

I am an artist who believes in conveying emotions through bold and vibrant colours, using gestural motions and large brushes to engage with the canvas physically.

My spontaneous and intuitive approach involves multiple layers, impasto techniques, and experimentation with various materials like charcoal and inks. Influenced by artists such as Karel Appel, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko, my work embraces improvisation, emphasising the therapeutic power of art to convey joy and vitality.

The core principles of expressiveness, spontaneity, and vibrant colours remain constant throughout my evolving techniques. My abstract creations are windows into a world of hope, joy, and life, serving as beacons of optimism in a world often filled with negativity and despair.

They invite viewers to embrace life, find happiness in every moment, and smile in the face of adversity.

Constant experimentation and evolution define my approach, and like Karel Appel, I believe in the therapeutic power of art, aiming to convey joy and vitality through my work.

“Grasping Life”

Shipping Weight: 5 kg
Dimensions: 150 × 120 cm

Explore the dynamic energy and expressiveness of “Grasping Life,” a bold abstract art expressionist painting that captures the vibrancy of life through gestural brushwork, vivid colours, and a stunning interplay of warm and cool tones. This impactful artwork invites viewers to experience the raw emotion and movement conveyed through the artist’s spontaneous and intuitive application of paint on canvas.

“Delicious Hope”

Shipping Weight: 4 kg
Dimensions: 120 × 80 cm

This exquisite painting embodies the essence of vibrant expressionism, crafted with a rich blend of oils, cold wax, and translucent inks. The artwork’s bold, gestural brushstrokes and textured surfaces exude a sense of hope and life, making it a spiritual and colourful narrative work that speaks to the soul.

“Delicious Hope” is more than just a painting; it is a testament to the artist’s philosophy of embracing an abundant life filled with creativity, healing, and appreciation for the natural world. Leonie.e.Brown’s work often explores themes of PTSD and depression, using her art as a powerful medium to inspire and uplift. Through this piece, she aims to empower others, particularly women who have faced similar struggles, to find strength and hope in the transformative power of art.

The painting serves as a reminder that there is hope when there is life, reflecting Leonie’s own belief in seeing the glass of life as half full and maintaining an attitude of gratitude.

This large-scale abstract expressionist painting is perfect for those looking to add a statement piece to their collection. Its vibrant colours and dynamic composition make it a standout addition to any home or office, creating an atmosphere of positivity and inspiration, and a reminder to hope

Discover the transformative emotion of “Delicious Hope” and let it bring a sense of hope and life into your surroundings. Experience the powerful narrative of Leonie.e.Brown’s work, and be inspired by her journey of healing and creativity.

“Joy In The Morning”

Shipping Weight: 4 kg
Dimensions: 120 × 80 cm

This vibrant abstract painting, “Joy in the Morning,” is a powerful expression of raw emotion and energy. It showcases the interplay of bold brushstrokes and a dramatic colour palette that ranges from fiery reds and oranges to cool blues and purples. The artist’s bold, fearless technique creates a sense of movement and depth, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the visual rhythms.

Through the lens of abstract expressionism, the painting seems to capture the essence of joy and vitality, transforming the canvas into a celebration of the human experience. Each stroke, each splash of pigment, tells a story of the artist’s own creative journey, allowing the viewer to embark on a transformative visual exploration.

This work is a true testament to the power of artistic joy and expression, transcending mere representation and speaking directly to the soul. It is a captivating work of art that invites you to lose yourself in the captivating rhythm of colour and emotion.

“Life Untamed”

“Life Untamed” is a captivating journey through the raw, unrestrained essence of existence. This vibrant abstract painting bursts with energy, mirroring the untamed spirit of life itself.

Bold strokes of deep red and purple dominate the lower portion of the canvas, symbolising the intensity of lived experiences and the depths from which resilience emerges. These rich hues surge upwards, intertwining with lighter blues and whites, creating a visual metaphor for the journey from darkness to light, from struggle to hope.

Scattered throughout are vivid splashes of yellow and orange, like sparks of joy and moments of clarity breaking through chaos. The interplay of colours and textures reflects the complex layers of human emotion and experience, each brushstroke a testament to the artist’s intuitive and physical process.

This painting embodies Leonie E. Brown’s artist statement, serving as a powerful visual representation of her journey through complex PTSD and abuse towards healing and self-expression. The dynamic composition, with its clashing and harmonising elements, mirrors the internal battles and triumphs described in her artist statement.

“Life Untamed” is more than just a painting; it’s a declaration of freedom and resilience. It speaks to those who have felt confined by their past, showing that it’s possible to break free and embrace life in all its messy, beautiful complexity. The thick impasto layers and bold brushstrokes fight against invisible barriers, creating a tangible sense of breaking through limitations.

This artwork invites viewers to engage with their own emotions, to feel the vitality and hope that pulses through every stroke. It’s a celebration of the human spirit’s capacity to not just survive but to thrive and find beauty even in the aftermath of trauma.

Through “Life Untamed,” Leonie E. Brown extends an invitation to join her in embracing life’s full spectrum of experiences, to find strength in vulnerability, and to celebrate the untamed joy of existence. It stands as a vibrant testament to the power of art to heal, inspire, and transform.