Traveling through the works of Liz Leggett one immediately encounters the artist exploring her world through measured and considered lines and color. Often seeming to mask questions about one’s existence Leggett pulls us into the work to understand and navigate her lines, and confident color choices, seemingly confusing us by the titles. In reality, the lines, color and titles portray moments that may have been experienced by Leggett, (though that is not key to the work). The quality that adds interest to the work, is that whatever Leggett is inspired by or because of, she is historically known for her ability to release the viewer from her ‘constraint’ to explore the work and thus, create their own experienced moments with the work. For example," I'll Catch My Breath When The Top is Down and the Sky Turns Pink," one can easily imagine that there is turmoil that stimulates the work - but there is also an escape. The escape is found in memories many have of waiting all year for weather that calls for ‘the top to be down.’ The associations of pink skies reward one with the idea that ‘tomorrow will bring better weather,’ which in this case can suggest simply that tomorrow will be better.
But…how do we navigate the keys to “The Leggett style” through the lines and colors of her composition? Once again turning our attention to the above mentioned piece, that though the title suggests optimism and a desire for another today - the seemingly chaotic choices leave one wondering. How do we get to the pink sky through the lines, curves that seem to confine the viewer in the differing shades of pink in the middle of the composition? How do we move through the green or black lines that seem determined to swallow one? The answer lies in the title, that there will be a day where one will enjoy the sensuous warmth and exhilaration of a ‘top down day, or night.’ One will get through all of these obstacles and make their way towards that better day, that better moment. In concluding, to fully understand Leggett’s works, one has to travel through, recognize and welcome the abundance of her colors dancing across her work, break through, climb under her dominating lines - and in so doing, one realizes that Leggett is an artist deeply feeling, deeply experiencing - and one who in the end - is deeply confident in both her composition but also in the resilience of human nature.
Statement and curation by Melanie Prapopoulos
