Works of HeART: Leah Theresa Nieves, of Winter Garden

The mission of the Winter Garden Art Association is to showcase, encourage and celebrate individual creativity and artistic expression among local artists.

West Orange County is teeming with artists whose talents range from visual to performing to literary arts. Whether they are expressing themselves with a microphone, paint brush and canvas, or the written word, artists and their creations give us avenues in which to imagine, dream and wonder.

In this feature, the Observer and the WGAA will highlight a local artist monthly.

This month, meet Winter Garden resident and artist Leah Theresa Nieves.

How long have you been creating?

2018 to present

Favorite mediums?

Oil, acrylic, photography, mixed media, creative writing

Favorite themes in your artwork? 

My Puerto Rican and Filipino ancestry; being a first-generation American; generational trauma; local folklore; social justice; spirituality; regional history; and Southern Gothic, a post-Bellum genre that criticized the romanticization of the Antebellum era in the Southern United States.

Why is expressing yourself through art important to you? 

Creating is how I make sense of the world around me. Painting and poetry helps me process trauma. Art enables me to use my talents as a platform for causes I'm passionate about. For example, I'm incredibly passionate about promoting diversity and practicing anti-racism in our local communities. My hope is to help create context and uplift untold stories.

Do you have a formal art education? If so, where and when? 

New York University Bachelor of Fine Arts in fine studio arts with a minor in creative writing 2020-21. Savannah College of Art and Design 2020-24 Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting with a minor in museum studies.

Favorite famous artist and why?

Lenora Carrington: She was a painter and novelist — two things I aspire to be. I'm intrigued by her whimsical esoteric work. It's incredibly dream-like and feels as if she is painting a snapshot of her mind. Lastly, I admire her impact on feminist movements and women's liberation in Mexico.

Notable places your artwork has been displayed?

City Arts, Savannah Cultural Arts Center, Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland.

In which museum (worldwide) would you most like to see your artwork displayed and why?  

Any contemporary art museum really. Specifically, being exhibited in the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago would be full circle for me. I lived there briefly while I was undergoing medical treatment. Escaping to the downtown museums was my favorite pastime.

Accolades and awards?

Savannah College of Art & Design Honors Scholarship, School of the Art Institute of Chicago Merit Scholarship, Seneff Honors College Valencia, Valencia College Presidential List, Legacy Charter High School Creative Writing Award.