Dr. Wesley Leigh
Oil Paint
BIO
I am a physician-artist who first immersed myself in painting in March of 2022. I use bold colors such as red, gold, blue, and yellow to convey unspoken emotions to the viewer. My medium of choice is acrylic and oil pastel crayons on canvas. Growing up, I admired the art of Jacob Lawrence, Horace Pippin, Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Basquiat, and the expressionist movement. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many lives were lost prematurely, including those of people I had cared for personally as an emergency physician, that my creativity emerged at the tender age of 55. I have no formal art training and simply paint by instinct and love of vivid colors and imagery. My paintings are ripe for individual interpretation, which is my forte as a new artist.
Artist Statement
As a painter, my niche is providing a perspective of the Black experience. My paintings depict figures in closed or refined settings, sometimes with detailed facial expressions, and other times with a simple smile to convey contentment or high self-esteem. I aim for the viewer to immerse themselves into my art and feel the splendor of the moment, becoming a part of the art rather than apart from it. The capacity for human communication began some 100,000 years ago with cave art and etchings setting the stage for modern human development. Therefore, art is simply ingrained in our spirits. I feel enlivened to be an artist and to positively impact lives. At the end of the day, I aspire to be known for my love of family, service to the community, and my God-given ability to convey unspoken emotions through the medium of art.
Image Gallery
Here is some of my artwork for you to look at. If you're interested in purchasing any pieces, please feel free to reach out to me via email. You can find my email address above.