I draw inspiration from the native art of ancient civilizations and from prehistoric origin myths. My recent paintings are about the paradox of emptiness that at once unites us and divides us. I seek to express the contrast between being and emptiness, as a reflection of life and by using the blackest and mattest paint possible.
Biography
Born in 1992 in the Bronx, Freddy Leiva is a Nicaraguan-American artist who was raised between Managua - Nicaragua - and the Bronx. He attended New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study where his concentration was titled Shaping Culture Through Persuasion.
His works explore our humanity through different themes such as language, dance, childhood, spirituality, and rhythm. He draws inspiration from ancient philosophies, cosmology and prehistoric origin myths.
His paintings always begin with abstract and very physical gestures. In painting he has always naturally gravitated towards the line. The line serves him as a starting point that allows him to investigate the intersection between drawing and painting. He pursued this further into sculpture, and sought to explore the material limits of paper. This is reflected both aesthetically and in his technique, in the materials he uses and how he applies them onto the surface. He manipulates the paper first by carefully destroying it with his hands and then he rebuilds it by creating a skeletal structure through collaged paper. The result is a 3 dimensional sculptural object with a textured and layered surface.
He currently lives and works in Manhattan, NY.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
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Memory, Memento, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Really From, Jambhekar|Cruz, New York, NY, United States
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Arte Fiera, Cellar Contemporary, Bologna, Italy
2022
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An Insight on US Art on Paper, Cellar Contemporary, Trento, Italy;
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Group Show, Galería Leyendecker, Canary Islands, Spain
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Group Show, ARCO, Galería Leyendecker, Madrid, Spain
2021
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Modern | Contemporaries, Durban Segnini Gallery, Miami, FL, United States
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Group Show, Galería Leyendecker, Canary Islands, Spain
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Group Show, Estampa Art Fair, Galería Leyendecker, Madrid, Spain
2020
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Benefit Auction, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI, United States
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