Artist Statement
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My name is Leigh Hollmann and I love color. I love its whimsy and how it effortlessly it makes me and others smile. I also love the interplay of colors, one against the other and the often surprising yet consistently gratifying results of their meeting. So it’s no surprise that my art revolves around color. Bold and bright, patterned and swirled. For me, the more intense the color and color combinations the better.
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It’s also no surprise that fabric is a central aspect of my work. Fabric has always been a part of my life. Whether it was my mother sewing my clothes when I was a child, or me as a youngster making fabric crafts and doll clothes to later making quilts with my mother and sister, fabric has always been there bringing me and my family closer together. Through my work, I strive to pass on this type of connection and bring other families and friends closer together, whether that is through a piece of fabric pottery given as a gift or a trivet that brightens and beautifies a family meal.
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I am inspired by the idea that a sheet of white cotton can be manipulated in so many ways – that it can be put in a dye bath and become any color under the sun or when mixed take on a new color never before seen. This gives me a childlike joy. As I work, each piece takes on a life of its own. As the fabric is twisted and turned, wrapped and stitched whimsy takes hold. Like a dance, the colors, patterns and textures move seamlessly from one to the next transitioning each piece into something familiar but new. The handmade clay embellishments then cement their individuality.
My graphic design background greatly influences the themes in my work. Using simple shapes like circles, triangles and spirals in combination to develop bold patterns, I create visual complexity that is still comfortable and inviting. The color and design aspects are the art side of my work. Ensuring the utility of my pieces and that they are easy to enjoy is the functional side. As an artist, the concept of combining utility and art and creating pieces that are playful yet functional is very much a part of me.
Through my art I intend to bring color, playfulness and hopefully smiles into people’s everyday lives. I am Leigh Hollmann. I make art for every day.
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As an artist, the concept of combining utility and art and creating pieces that are playful yet functional is very much a part of me.
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Artist Bio
Leigh Hollmann is a fiber artist on a mission to bring smiles and a splash of color into people’s everyday lives. Bold colors and graphic patterns ornamented with original fiber, wood or clay embellishments define her unique and whimsical style of hand-wrapped fiber art and pottery. Her work beautifully balances both form and function. Founder of Swirlpuppy Creations, Hollmann's work has been exhibited at fine art shows through Michigan and featured in The Detroit News. A graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, she is currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. |
