LEILA CARTIER

An Imaginary Land

of Promise

CHRYSANTHEMUMS WITH

SYMMETRY, 2014

Oil on Canvas

62” x 52”

VEIW OF THE GARDEN, 2014

Oil on Canvas

62” x 52”

II “Society of Gardeners: XII

Bouquets of Jewelry“ collage on

paper. 24” x 18”

V "Society of Gardeners: XII

Bouquets of Jewelry" collage on

paper. 24” x 18”

POPPIES 2014

Oil on Canvas

62” x 52”

LILLIPUT 2014

Oil on Canvas

62” x 52”

RHODODENDRON 2014

Oil on Canvas

62” x 52”

VI "Society of Gardeners: XII

Bouquets of Jewelry" collage on

paper. 24” x 18”

VIII "Society of Gardeners: XII

Bouquets of Jewelry" collage on

paper. 24” x 18”

Bouquet, 2014

Oil on Canvas

62” x 52”

VII "Society of Gardeners: XII

Bouquets of Jewelry" collage on

paper. 24” x 18”

III "Society of Gardeners: XII

Bouquets of Jewelry" collage on

paper. 24” x 18”

Still life with Copperhead

Oil on Canvas

30” x 26”

Still life with Spider

Oil on Canvas

30” x 26”

All is Vanity

My paintings have always called upon heightened experiences of nature,

perceptions of beauty, and modern day social constitutions. In recent work,

individual portraits display what can be described as Darwinian manifestations

of embellishment and performance. Paired together in diptychs, these portraits

draw attention to the universal driving forces behind the character, impulses,

and charades of living beings. Many of the non-human subjects in my portraits

are chosen for their grandiose posture, unusually evolved appearance, and

the way these attributes mimic those of their human counterparts. Ultimately,

these paintings fall under the influence of the curiosities, affections, and

melodramas as we know them here on earth. Recently, I have begun a new

body of work where I merge techniques applied in separate past abstract and

representational bodies of work.

These oil paintings are inspired by decadent novel Against Nature by Joris-

Karl Huysmans. In this novel, the main character Des Esseintes has become

disillusioned by modern urban life and escapes to the countryside where he

carefully designs a unique aesthetic environment. This atmosphere is

saturated with rich colors, patterns, and nature, all of which aim to appease his

cynical attitude and desensitized palate. His dissatisfaction with the world and

the people of his past seem exaggerated and border on hallucinatory.

Several images, including the new works on paper, have been based on the

vintage prints and engravings by British Horticulturalist Robert Furber and

American Illustrator Charles Allan Gilbert. The gardenscapes, bouquets, and

portraits that are part of this series are meant to be the distorted visions and

memories of Des Esseintes.

Biography

Leila Cartier grew up amidst the Appalachian Mountai

ns in Abingdon, Virginia. She received a BFA in Art

and Art History at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia,

PA, and spent a year studying at Temple University Rome,

Italy. Her MFA in Painting and Drawing is from the School of the

Art Institute of Chicago, IL During this time she also

studied the Arabic language for two years at nearby DePaul

University.

Cartier is a Jacob K. Javits Fellow and recipient

of the Community Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago

Scholarship. She has exhibited extensively in solo and group

exhibitions and her

work is represented by SchmidtDean Gallery, Philadelphia, and

Mallory Fine Art, Abingdon. She currently lives and works in

her hometown of Abingdon, and has been the curator

of William King Museum of Art since 2009.

INFO:

• SCHMIDT/DEAN GALLERY

• 1719 Chestnut Street

• 4th Floor

• Philadelphia, Pa. 19103

• 215-569-9433

• schmidtdean@netzero.net

• www.schmidtdean.com

• https://www.youtube.com/user/schmidtdeangallery