@betterworldfragrancehouse

Blending the realism and abstraction of the female forms and figures, Simone Leigh places Black femme interiority at the center. Guggenheim said it best, “Leigh works primarily with sculpture, installation, and video, as well as with Social Practice [...]. Often combining premodern techniques and materials—including lost-wax casting, salt-fired ceramics, and terracotta—with potent cultural iconographies such as cowrie shells, plantains, and tobacco leaves, Leigh creates objects and environments that reframe stereotypes associated with black women and celebrate black life.” The profoundness of her messaging juxtaposes the minimal nature of her work on the surface level. Looking deeper, there is no denying Leigh’s background in fine art and philosophy as her work reflects a true sense of observation and intellectual curiosity within the realm of the African diaspora specifically. To honor her legacy, in May of this year, Leigh was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, one of the most famous and prestigious cultural organizations in the world. ARTnews wrote, “Leigh, who also represented the United States this year at the Venice Biennale, was recognized for Brick House (2019), a 16ft tall sculpture that had formerly appeared on New York’s High Line park [...]”. Brick House is one of Leigh’s most popular works. In 2019 Leigh even made a mark on the fashion and lifestyle world. Leigh’s sculpture work, 16-foot-tall sculpture “Brick House” and “Cupboard” series inspired the Garage magazine cover that held Zendaya as its muse, wearing the sculpture itself. Placing the young black Hollywood actress within the context of Leigh’s work, personifies the language of Leigh’s work surrounding Black female subjectivity. Check out the 2019 interview with Leigh on Garage. The art world is excited to see what Leigh creates next. As she transforms art and paves new ways for Black artists alike, she remains a legend for all time. To view more of Simone Leigh’s work and to keep up to date on her next public exhibition, follow her at @simoneyvetteleigh. #ArtMakesBetterWorld #BetterWorldFragranceHouse bwfh.co/ig