Biography

Dene Leigh investigates neurological impairment and the fragility of human memory in his practice. Through painting, sculpture and drawing, the artists work endeavors to make sense of his grandfathers difficulty with memory following a stroke. After experiencing life with the consequences of the stroke for several years, the artists grandfather passed away. Soon after, the abrupt passing of the artists mother generated an urge to grasp the memories and fleeting moments associated with those who are most important to him.

Faceless figures, illegible lettering and ambiguous objects, are recurrent images that explore three of the barriers to the artist
s grandfathers everyday life that shook the artist the most. The barriers caused the inability to grasp language in its written and spoken form and rendered once familiar faces and objects unrecognizable. 

 

Leigh's body of work embodies the fragility of human memory and the desire to acknowledge and record those he has and has not met. The artist continually documents recollections of those dearest to him through the prism of the barriers that his grandfather faced. In doing so, the work tries to solidify the short-lived moments associated with the human memory and the ultimate decay of everything around us.

 

The artist lives and works in London, UK.

Selected Artworks
  • Dene Leigh, Evanesce, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Evanesce, 2017
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, In The Midst, 2018
    Dene Leigh
    In The Midst, 2018
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, Untitled, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Untitled, 2017
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, Defaced, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Defaced, 2017
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, Now You See Me, Now You Don't, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Now You See Me, Now You Don't, 2017
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, Sensory Stimuli, 2015
    Dene Leigh
    Sensory Stimuli, 2015
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, An Unknown Person and Thing, 2016
    Dene Leigh
    An Unknown Person and Thing, 2016
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, A Man And A Smiling Object, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    A Man And A Smiling Object, 2017
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, The Messenger Bird, 2014
    Dene Leigh
    The Messenger Bird, 2014
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, A Picture and A Thousand Words, 2014
    Dene Leigh
    A Picture and A Thousand Words, 2014
    Oil on linen
  • Dene Leigh, Untitled, 2016
    Dene Leigh
    Untitled, 2016
    Mixed media
  • Dene Leigh, Untitled Object 1, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Untitled Object 1, 2017
    Bronze
  • Dene Leigh, Untitled Object 2, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Untitled Object 2, 2017
    Bronze
  • Dene Leigh, Untitled Object 3, 2017
    Dene Leigh
    Untitled Object 3, 2017
    Bronze
  • Dene Leigh, Squares, 2016
    Dene Leigh
    Squares, 2016
    Pencil and adhesive tape on found paper
  • Dene Leigh, Typo, 2016
    Dene Leigh
    Typo, 2016
    Pencil on found paper
  • Dene Leigh, Squares 2, 2016
    Dene Leigh
    Squares 2, 2016
    Pencil on found paper
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