CV – Johanna Leech

Email: johanna@johannaleech.com

Studio: Flaxart, Bedford Street, Belfast
Qualifications BA (Hons) in Fine and Applied Art, University of Ulster, Belfast

Artist Statement: My practice stems from a broad fascination with the world around me. Realised through: drawing; archives; digital imagery; interactive social practice; story; moving image; and installation. My work has an informal archival feel of association that contains moments of the unexpected. These allow the viewer to create their own narratives as they are brought through unusual rumors, local lore, historic or accurate happenings to moments of collective consciousness.

The viewer is presented with an amalgam of installations, minimalist drawing and make-shift collections. Stemming from a lifelong obsession with collecting, the subject matter combines influences from travel, social interactions, history, iconography, myths, legends and museum categorization. These are presented in humourous ways that entice the viewer to decipher connections and explore the multiple narratives set before them.

I see my art practice as an adventure. I’m an explorer presenting my discoveries. I select and create imagery that draws in the viewer through the familiar and the commonplace.

“She seems to have a knack for finding the bizarre and unique, sometimes under your very nose, in locations you pass by every day. There are moments when her work can make one feel, as Walker Percy would say, “sunk into our own everydayness.” This exchange is perhaps what is most compelling about Leech’s practice; it challenges the unexamined inheritances of our day-to day affairs.” David Hawkins for Cville newspaper, USA, 2013.

OCT & NOV 2024 – CCA, Derry, World’s Fair/Expo project

OCT & NOV 2023 – Threshold, Belfast, collaboration with Stuart Calvin

CURATOR
March 2022. ‘Bending Glass’ Neon exhibition, Havelock House, Belfast, UK
June/July 2021. Amabie アマビエ Project, Pollen Studios, Belfast, UK

Selected Exhibitions

Solo
Nov 2019. Wanderlust & Fantastic Oddities, Millenium Court A.C, Portadown, UK
June 2017. ‘Mourne Mountains’, PS2 Paragon Studios, Belfast, UK
Nov 2013. ‘What’s yours is mine, but you don’t know it…’ CHRCH Project Space, NY, USA
Nov 2013. ‘Virginia Is For..’ , The Bridge PAI, Charlottesville VA, USA
March 2012 ‘THEY ARE NOT ALBINOS’ Mailbox141, Melbourne, Australia

Group
March 2023. ‘Significant Other’, Artcetera, Belfast, UK
Dec 2022. ‘Commune’, University of Atypical, Belfast, UK
Nov 2022. ‘Significant Other’, Artcetera, Belfast, UK
Dec 2021 – June 2022. ‘Mayor’s Parlour’, Belfast’s City Hall, UK
May 2022. ‘Roonivoolin’ video and storytelling performance, Rathlin Island, UK
Feb 2019. ‘The Odd Collection’, Pollen Studios, Belfast, UK
Jan 2018. ‘True/False/Fake/Real’, Espacio Gallery, London, UK
Aug 2016. ‘Double Vision’, Cultural Centre Vanha Paukku, Lapua, Finland
May 2016. ‘Eden’s Blueprint’, Peroia City Gallery, Arizona, USA
[Toured to Antrim and Belfast International Airport, & Brussels until March 2017]
Jan 2016. ‘Art Vend Project’ Oriel Wrecsam, Wrexham, Wales
Oct 2015. ‘Vanishings Futures: Collective Histories of Northern Irish Art’, Golden Thread, Belfast
Feb 2015. ‘Basic Operation’,Catalyst Arts, Belfast
Jan 2015. ‘LEFTOVERS’,Golden Thread (Project Space), Belfast [Collaboration]
June 2014. ‘State Of Play’ Pollen Studios, Belfast
Jan 2013. ’16th and Minnesota’, Golden Thread (Project Space), Belfast
Sept 2012. ‘Transatlantic Diner’ live link up in New York & Belfast [Collaboration]
April 2012 ‘Rolling on my Bleeding Heart‘ Lumen8 Anacostia Washington DC, USA
May 2010. ‘Art Rebels’ Catalyst Arts, Belfast
Nov 2008. ‘Meet me at sunset’, Gallery 4 All Arts, Liverpool.
March 2008. ‘SIM Artists Residency Show’ Icelandic Visual Artists, Reykjavik.
July 2007. ‘Fresh paint’ Carlinn Gallery, Carlingford, Ireland.

Artist Residencies

2016, 2023, 2025 Tyrone Guthrie Centre Co.Monaghan, Ireland
2017 Cultural Centre Vanha Paukku Lapua, Finland
2014 Digital Arts Studios Residency Belfast, N.Ireland
2013 CHRCH Project Space Residency Ulster County NY, USA
2013 The Bridge PAI Residency Program Charlottesville VA, USA
2012 ARCH Artist in Residency Program Washington DC, USA
2009 residence SHAC ‘Edible windmills’ Belfast, N.Ireland
2008 The Association of Icelandic Visual Artists (SÍM) Reykjavík, Iceland

Awards
Jan 2016 – Tyrone Guthrie residency, Lisburn and Castlereagh Borough Councils
2014 – 2015 – Career Enhancement Scheme, Golden Thread Gallery
Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) —
+ 4 General Arts Awards – 2017, 2015, 2014, 2011 + 2 Travel Awards – 2017, 2011
+ Self-Arranged Residency (£5,000) – 2013 + Washington DC Artist Residency – 2012

Review
Cville Newspaper, Arts Preview
‘Everyday icons’ by David Hawkins, Charlottesville, USA 2013

Belfast Newsletter
‘Belfast and NYC in live diner link up’, Belfast, UK 2012

Belfast Newsletter 5 of the Hottest Festival Picks
‘No.1 Culture Night pick – Transatlantic Diner’, Belfast, UK 2012

Talks/Presentations
Black Box Facilitated a session of Golden Thread Gallery’s ‘Career Enhancement Scheme’, Belfast, UK 2017

Golden Thread Gallery Flax Art 25 years – Artist Talk, Belfast, UK 2014

Membership
Flax Art Studios, Seacourt Print Workshop, Visual Artist Ireland, Catalyst Arts

Publication
Imago Mundi Luciano Benetton Collection
‘2016 an Image of Ireland Contemporary Artists from Ireland’, Ireland, 2016

Golden Thread Gallery ‘Vanishings Futures: Collective Histories of Northern Irish Art’ Peter Richards. Belfast, Northern Ireland

residence ‘Residence February 2008- September 2009’, 2009

Work experience

Strand Arts Centre Programme Manager, Sept 2013 – current

Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive presenter, Dec 2017 – current

Seacourt Print Workshop Board Member, Dec 201 – 2016

ACNI Arts & Older People ‘Silver Screens’ Facilitator at Golden Thread, 2018 – 2019

Catalyst Arts Archivist and assistant researcher, Jan 2012 – current

Children and The Arts (London) & Golden Thread Gallery Facilitator, 2016 – 2017

East Belfast Arts Festival / TETHER Board Member, Dec 2012 – 2016

Young at Art Freelance Events Manager, July 2012 – 2015

Belfast Photo Festival Artistic Director, Oct 2011- Oct 2013

Belfast City Council ‘Late Night Art’ Co-ordinator & Tour guide, 5 years ending 2014

Catalyst Arts Co-Director, October 2007 – 2009