Description
‘We Cry’ by Lesley Thiel
Artist: Lesley Thiel
Title: ‘We Cry’
Medium: Oil on aluminium panel
Dimensions: 39″ x 32″
Framing: Framed (frame size: 44″ x 37″)
Year of Creation: 2022
About the Artwork:
“A young woman faces us. In her grief, she clutches her grey veil of mourning as if it is her only anchor. Around her are three weeping black swans. Unlike white swans, who are symbols of undying love and purity, black swans also represent resilience, because they persist in the face of threats and challenges. But these swans are suffering because they are pierced by the branches of black rhododendron, a flower which represents grief and betrayal. With this, I am examining how we are ignoring the anxiety of our youth. We are telling them they must be resilient in the face of change, and solve the problems we are failing to address. But resilience will only carry them so far.” – Lesley Thiel
About the Artist:
(Artist Bio)
Lesley Thiel is a self taught figurative artist known for her highly detailed photorealistic paintings. Working in oils, her pieces focus on narrative portraiture, surrealism, and magical realism. Her paintings contain imagery designed to express her thoughts on the fate of our species, and on our relationship with the earth in the face of man-made climate change. She uses the symbolism associated with plants and animals to communicate her fears for the future of life on our planet, and as a sign of hope for our collective survival. Her paintings speak of the strength of the upcoming generation of young women and girls who may well be our saviors. She questions the accepted narrative of the female voice in society and the myths attached to this.
Lesley’s work has been included in numerous exhibitions, including at the Museum of Modern European Art (MEAM), Barcelona; Wassau Museum of Contemporary Art; The Mall Galleries, London; The Salmagundi Club; RJD Gallery, New York; Terminal 5 Heathrow (as part of the Olympic Celebrations); Zhou B Art Center. She has received a Certificate of Excellence from the Portrait Society of America, and multiple awards from the Art Renewal Center. Her work is part of both the Art Renewal Center Collection, and the Bennett Collection. Born in England, she now lives and works in North Carolina.