ANIA LESELA is a physician scientist and a self-taught artist. This Orinda resident immigrated to the US as a young girl and her creative work is deeply influenced by her own life experiences, as well as her scientific background. Her paintings are in the style of figurative and abstract expressionism, where the viewer is invited to interact with the work and make their own interpretations. Ania’s artworks evoke a feeling of intimacy and engage the viewer in quiet contemplation.
About
As an artist, I’m interested in how our minds process ambiguous fragments of information to construct our realities and produce a wide range of emotions and experiences.
My style of painting is largely intuitive. I begin with no fixed idea or intention. I free myself to make gestural marks and splatters which evolve into a feeling or begin to suggest a subject. The markings may unfold to show themselves as figures or faces. I imagine the personas that emerge from this abstraction - they are often deep in thought or engaged in a solitary activity. Sometimes they express themselves in whimsical ways, with big hair or theatrical costumes.
Often my intuitive markings remain in the abstract realm and grow into artworks that have an elusive dream-like quality. These semi-abstract paintings seem to me like fragments of memories or fleeting moments.
I enjoy working with mixed media and will often use collage, acrylics, and oil pencils all together to create layers and textures. Some of my paintings are on paper and others on loose canvas, which I then carefully mount on wood to create the finished piece.