Interview with Artist Leila Fanner

Leila Fanner

Fortune shined upon me while perusing through Instagram. I came across the artwork of South Africa based artist Leila Fanner. Immediately, I notice her use of bold dark colors and dreamlike imagery. She has numerous exhibits (paginated listing below). Besides her exhibitions, Leila’s art is in private collections in South Africa, Germany, France, Belgium, Kenya, England and the USA.[1] Best of all, she is gracious enough to take time out for a few short questions.

 

 

 

Website: https://www.leilafannerart.com

The Work of Leila Tanner   (click to enlarge).

 

EXHIBITS [2]
Preparing for an upcoming Solo Exhibit in September, 2018
‘Solo Studios’ – Riebeek Kasteel, 2018
New York 2018 Harlem Fine Art Show
Gallery One11 – Group Show , Cape Town – 2017 to 2018
‘Verve II’ – Aity Gallery – Franschhoek – 2017
‘Taken Beyond’ – Aity Gallery – Franschhoek – 2017
‘Divergent Tides’ – Eclectica Design & Art – 2017
‘Unified’ – Aity Gallery, Franschhoek – 2017
‘Symbiosis” – Eclectica Design & Art, Cape Town – 2017
‘Solo Studios’ – Riebeek Kasteel, 2017
‘Summer Salon’ – Aity Glalery, group show, Franschhoek, Dec 2016 – Jan 2017
‘Summertide’ – The Gallery, Riebeek Kasteel, Dec 2016 – Jan 2017
‘Flowers In Art’ – The Castle of Good Hope, October 2016
‘KINGDOM’ – Cavalli Gallery, September 2016
‘Unify’ – Art In The Yard, September 2016
‘Solo Studio’s’ – Riebeek Kasteel, July 2016
‘Aeipathy’ – Cavalli Gallery, February 2016
‘KINGDOM’ group show – Cavalli Gallery, September 2015
Claudia’s Wall Exhibition, Riebeek Kasteel, May 2015
Skullduggery, The Studio, Kalkbay, July 2014
CAPE TOWN ART FAIR – AITY –  group show
Art in The Yard Exhibition – Franschhoek  – November 2013
Lovell Gallery – Pieces and Puzzles Exhibition – September 2013
40 Dorp Street Gallery Exhibition – 2009
SUPERWOMEN -1st Solo, mixed media portraits, Kunsthouse, Cape Town – 2008
Abstract Art Exhibition’s in the Cape Quarter – 2006 and 2007.
African Ochre Stills series exhibited at a joint exhibition at Casterbridge in 1998.
Watercolour studies – Baghdad Café Art Fair exhibited 1992-5.
First exhibition ‘Faux Masters’, Mpumalanga – 1993.

 

Please tell us a little about yourself?

I am a painter and illustrator. I was born to a South African artist and an African-American musician in Los Angeles, California. I was raised in South Africa and I currently work from my studio in Riebeek Kasteel – a tiny village in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

My work is predominantly abstract figuration and expressionism.

To begin, why do you create art?

Because I must. Hahaha. Well, almost true. I am driven to create, it is therapy as well as my livelihood. I create art to express myself, to deeper understand myself and to keep myself from going crazy out of sheer boredom : )

The first thing that stood out to be me is that a lot of your work uses bold powerful colors. How and why do you choose the colors in your work?

Colour choice is very instinctual, I don’t initially give it a lot of thought. However, once I’m getting fully engaged with the painting – once the initial drawing and idea have been set out, I then begin to organize and balance the colors and sort of start creating a color palette in my head for that specific painting. It is all about mood and emotion.

How do you find inspiration?

I have tons of art books, but I tend to refer to them for models of a hand or foot etc. Inspiration tends to come from dreams and meditative visions. I’m always seeking to understand or work through something that I then find a symbolic way of representing on canvas.

To you, why is art important?

It has been said in so many better ways that I could quote, but I’ll endeavor to be original: Amazing works of art allow me a visual escape route to awe, daydreams and wonder.

What is the most valuable thing you learned while attending the Johannesburg National School of the Arts?

That I didn’t want to be an actress. I studied drama!

Do you have any advice for young artists?

Yes. What I wish someone had told me: Don’t worry about finding your “style”. Keep creating and incorporating everything from artists whose work you most admire. Eventually, you will notice that you have your own specific way of doing your thing, that makes you feel excited and joyful and confident. Keep evolving. Studying art is not necessary for success if you are a natural researcher and not shy to make mistakes and take risks.

All photographs by permission of Leila Fanner

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References
[1] Leila Fanner, Gallery One 11
[2] Leila Fanner, Art in the Yard