Biography

Kathy Leader carries with her the powerful earthiness of the South African landscape that she grew up in. After completing her degree in visual art and art education, Kathy emigrated to the USA in 1985.

The richly layered mixed media and collage works convey a spiritual longing for the quietness she experiences in the natural world. Decay and beauty are intertwined as she attempts to reconstruct natural materials with the use of collage, fiber, thread and text. Influenced by artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Rothko, her use of natural materials and handmade papers, transmits a feeling of being mined from the earth.

Kathy’s work has been shown in various galleries in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Her paintings have been auctioned at the high profile Venice Family Clinic’s annual fundraising artshow to benefit medical services for the unhoused community.

“The Art Process Studio” in Southern California is Kathy’s brainchild. Her style of teaching reflects her own creative journey allowing the process to become a personal voyage of internal discovery.Along with her private teaching, Kathy has created an art program for the homeless and is a firm believer in the healing power of art which she blogs about monthly.

Shows

5/26: “Altered Realities”: Westmont Ridley Art Museum

4/26: “Textual Integration”: Rubinstein-Chan Contemporary Art, Carpinteria

3/26: Featured Artist: Domecil, Santa Barbara

1/26: Layering, Art and Soul Gallery, Santa Barbara

12/25: “100 GRAND” Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara

6/25:   Museum of Contemporary Art, Santa Barbara: Salon

4/25:   Spring Show: The Voice Gallery, Santa Barbara

3/25:   The Recycled Show: Community Arts Workshop

12/24: “100 GRAND” Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara

11/24: “Thresholds” The Voice Gallery, Santa Barbara

11/24: “Ready to Hang” Community Arts Workshop

3/24: “Home/age to Earth” Solo Show Community Arts Workshop. Santa Barbara

4/23: “Earthdance” The Voice Gallery, Santa Barara

4/23: Earth - 2023 (34th Exhibition from Diversia series)

4/23: “Caw’s Effect 2023” Group show Community Arts Workshop outreach committee artists show

1/23: Climate Change, Las laguna Art Gallery

5/22:     Channing Peake Gallery, Santa Barbara

5/22:     “Uncanny” Westmont Museum of Art Santa Barbara

3/22:     Artist of the Month: Gallery 113, Santa Barbara

2/22:      “Ready to Hang” Community Arts Workshop, winner audience choice award

5/21:      Venice Artwalk Auction, Los Angeles

5/20:      Venice Artwalk Auction, Los Angeles

1998-2019: Los Angeles Galleries various

Publications

Traces: Out of this Earth: Fiber Arts

Artistonish: Contemporary Art Magazine: April 2022

Circle Quarterly Art Review 6th Issue

How Art Heals: Andra F. Stanton

Arts Organizations

Santa Barbara Abstract Art Collective

Santa Barbara Art Association

SB Studio Artists

Collage Artists of America 

Artists Coop 7 

Los Angeles Art Association 

saatchi.com 

Jewish Artists Initiative 

Women Painters West 

So Cal Women’s caucus 

Juror: Buenaventura Gallery, Ventura: Annual Open Collage