New on the WEND gallery wall May and June 2026

Artist reception and West Seattle Art Walk June 11 5-8pm

LEA BASILE-LAZARUS

The work included in this exhibition reflects two distinct ways I experience the world. At times, I step away from my primary practice to create seasonal inspirations. In this case, I am drawn in by the crow because of its captivating presence, intelligence, and stoic yet relentless personality.

In contrast, my monoprints are complex and densely layered with expressive shapes and color, reflecting my ongoing response to the sociopolitical realities of the present moment. Making art is essential—it grounds me and creates space for private expression, while inviting viewers to discover their own meanings within the work.

Paper—whether printed on or formed from hand-shaped fibers—holds the memory of both the natural world and the human touch. I feel most at home working with paper as a foundation or creating images from pulp; it feels organic, unpretentious, and alive. I have always been drawn to artworks in which paper itself becomes part of the story.

I create textures and marks using brushes, squeeze bottles, stencils, and fabric, guided by the gestural movement of my arm. Many of the same stencils move across all three mediums, visually linking the work. Each process is both mentally and physically demanding, transforming mark-making into a language of nuanced conversation, unspoken emotion, and quiet resistance. Colors may clash or converge, echoing the turbulence of the world I navigate—yet within that tension, moments of stillness and clarity emerge, offering space to pause and breathe.

Exploring these materials and techniques has allowed me to develop distinctive surfaces that reflect both my immediate community and the wider world. The act of making is as vital to me as the finished piece—each gesture shaped by what I see, sense, and feel in the moment.

More about Lea's artwork:

instagram @lblprint

website www.leablazarus.com