Leonard Maiden

As an artist, I’m compelled to mine the aesthetic potential of African American imagery though experience and the whimsy of imagination. I feel a visual affinity for dark skin shining in the southern summer sun against the background of country sides, small town shops and cotton fields of the south; and the way it’s expressed through the activity of painting. The core content of my work is inspired by my parents who grew up on farms in Louisiana and Mississippi, and my grandfather who raised cotton in Mississippi. In this context the imagery in my paintings serve as symbols of independence, family ties and strength. Intuitively I employ these narratives, and other devices that communicates a rich heritage. My purpose is to present painting as a powerful communicative medium to convey the joy, strength and beauty.