Leelee Sobieski is an impactful artist, as is evident by her solid performances in both domains of acting and art. Despite gaining recognition through her stellar performance in motion pictures (notably for Eyes Wide Shut), Sobieski left behind the glitter of Hollywood in 2016. It was a period of self-discovery. She adopted a new name, Leelee Kimmel, under which she began her art career, thereby cutting ties with the industry once and for all.
This decision must come as no surprise, owing to her upbringing. She is the daughter of renowned artist Jean Sobieski, who moulded her into the artist she is today. Since her formative years, she has been surrounded by visceral visual art. It is common knowledge that Leelee Sobieski movies have shaken the audiences, and it holds true for her artwork as well.
Leelee Sobieski Art Style
Sobieski often employs Google Tilt Brush and VR to compose her pieces. She is a painter and a sculptor, falling back upon the ideas of abstractionism and absurdism. Her art pieces feature vibrant colours, striking shapes, and hoarse textures over black or white backgrounds. Her artwork distorts the sense of direction and orientation. You may not differentiate between the top, bottom, left, or right. Yet, it is marvellous.
She acknowledges the saturation in the field of art. Hence, she described her artwork as an amalgamation of VR and paintbrushes. To enrich her paintings, “you might paint with your left hand or a very long paintbrush”. Her peculiar style evokes the likes of Basquiat or Twombly. Although tangible, one may make out the extensive use of weaponry, radiation, and simply the zig-zag shapes of thunderstorms.
Channels (2018)
Leelee Sobieski’s debut exhibition is called ‘Channels’. It opened at the Journal Gallery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. These pieces feature loose abstract shapes drawn in acrylic over a white and black canvas. One notices the boldness of the colours. Although these multilayered forms have no real connection, they seem to be bound together by an eeriness, that brings a cohesiveness to her work. It is almost as if looking at an amoebic light at the end of the tunnel.
Wormhole (2018)
She debuted her second exhibition at the Simon Lee Gallery in London, her first in the UK. Her collection was called ‘Wormhole’. This collection reminds the audience of the tussle between the need to create and the desire to destroy. At first glance, her colour palette seems confrontational. However, as the audiences look on, they are assimilated into the bizarre Leelee Sobieski art.
In addition to her paintings, the collection also features uncanny sculptures. Made entirely of polymers and thermoplastic, they are her paintings reincarnate. Similar to her oeuvre, the sculptures are painted in electric and bright colours, each more intense than its precursor. These sculptures are distorted, yet evoke feelings of longing and a desire to reach out and break free.
Photo Courtesy – The New York Times
