Leanne Fortney
Current Artwork
As we delve into history, we uncover pieces of ourselves—connections that bring understanding. A photo, a document, a letter—each weaves a story that makes the past feel more human, beyond mere remnants. This year, my goal is to tell the stories of our identities. Through shared symbolism, these narratives emerge in expression, tension, and an overwhelming sense of knowing.
Dividing Line reflects on the fragile space between certainty and loss. In this reimagined childhood memory, a young girl clings to a carousel horse adorned with roses and gold trim, her striped dress radiating innocence amid shadowed figures. For me, this marks the last moment I can say with certainty that my mother’s love was present. Beyond that, truth became uncertain. What remained unwavering was my own love for carousel horses.
Dividing Line, 2025
Oil on Canvas, 48"x36"
My heart goes out to all our sisters out there who are struggling due to the racial injustices in our country. The sisters, mothers, daughters, aunties, and dolls, who have historically been oppressed, now have to go further into fear and uncertainty. All we can do is stand in our convictions and look forward to the day that we all can be our fullest true selves.
This painting is my allegory of hidden strength, love, fire, determination, and courage looking upward and towards the future.
Sister of Fire and Faith, 2025
Oil on Canvas, 48"x36"
Teddy Bear Picnic reflects the feeling that life's expectations can sometimes feel out of reach. It challenges the prescribed notion of being ‘adult’—as if we’re supposed to instinctively know what that means. We’re often raised by young adults who are, in many ways, still finding their own way, passing down their limited understanding. As we grow, we spend much of our lives unlearning those errors, longing for the simplicity and freedom of a more carefree time.
Teddy Bear Picnic, 2025
Oil on Canvas, 48"x36"
Studies, Sketches, and More
Artwork 2024
This year, my goal was to foster a vibrant connection between the artist, the viewer, and society, creating a shared space where we all feel seen, heard, and supported in our collective experience. This has become my mission.
My 2024 collection is based on nominative determinism (aptronym), which is the theory that a person's name can have a significant role in determining their life choices or behavior, such as choosing a profession that aligns with their name. In this instance, the title is a reflection of the name being influenced by their life choices or behavior.
Click the images below to expand each painting to learn more about the title and aptronym.
