Leah Phillips
BIO
Leah is a mixed media textile artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Using animals as inspiration, she creates whimsical pieces with the intention to spread happiness to others. Her work brings people into imaginary worlds and evokes feelings of nostalgia for childhood. Relying heavily on her imagination and creativity, she constructs unique environments bringing animals to life using a variety of textile techniques and processes. With a focus on soft sculpture, she creates interactive elements that engages the audience and invites play. She has truly found her passion in textiles and brings her full authentic self into every piece she makes.
CAPSTONE PROJECT
FLIPPERS AND FLORALS
This wall hanging explores my happy memories on both the East and West coasts of Canada. I use photographs I took of flowers during the summers I spent working in the Halifax Public Gardens as well as flowers I saw in Vancouver this past summer.
I also include seal imagery as I was always fascinated by the seals in Nova Scotia and even more excited when I saw Vancouver had seals as well. My project explores the cycle of life of these elements. Flowers bloom and die as seasons pass but these photographs hold the perfect memory of each of their short lives.
Digitally printed images of the flowers are printed on fabric and structured with wire. They were then combined with large naturally dyed fabric stuffed seals: two mothers and two pups. All elements are thoughtfully appliquéd to a hand manipulated background which gives an illusion of a fantasy world.
FEATURED Work
Title: Flippers and Florals
Dimensions: 48 x 70 in.
Year: 2023
Materials: Digitally printed fabric, wire, stitching, naturally dyed fabric, stuffing, hand pigment marking, screen printing, embroidery, heavy cotton backing
Title: Me standing with wall hanging
Dimensions: 48 x 70 in.
Year: 2023
Materials: Digitally printed fabric, wire, stitching, naturally dyed fabric, stuffing, hand pigment marking, screen printing, embroidery, heavy cotton backing
Title: Flippers and Florals, detail
Dimensions: 48 x 70 in.
Year: 2023
Materials: Digitally printed fabric, wire, stitching, naturally dyed fabric, stuffing, hand pigment marking, screen printing, embroidery, heavy cotton backing
Title: Mother seal and her pup
Dimensions: 48 x 70 in.
Year: 2023
Materials: Digitally printed fabric, wire, stitching, naturally dyed fabric, stuffing, hand pigment marking, screen printing, embroidery, heavy cotton backing
Title: Me attaching flower to wallhanging with Velcro
Dimensions: 48 x 70 in.
Year: 2023
Materials: Digitally printed fabric, wire, stitching, naturally dyed fabric, stuffing, hand pigment marking, screen printing, embroidery, heavy cotton backing