Meet Lelia Davis | Art Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lelia Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lelia, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
The most important factor in my creative process is finding the right balance of solitude and socialization. Solitude is essential for sustaining a creative flow, a requirement for my creativity. While this allows me to create successful paintings, they rely upon my ability to engage with the art community in order for them to see the light of day. Forming relationships with other artists and gallery owners is not only satisfying and validating, but being part of a supportive artist community is essential on many levels.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Using bold color, energetic brushstrokes and palette knife, I paint the magnificent landscapes of Colorado and beyond. Combining art with my background in wellness, biology and interest in environmental conservation, the focus of my work is to depict endangered land and its fragility, as well as our shared role in maintaining a healthy environment for all of its inhabitants.Whether touring protected land with conservation groups or hiking solo, I strive to bring awareness on a more intimate level by capturing the waterways essential to each habitat on a micro and macroscopic level. My depiction of these easily missed areas is a metaphor for how their importance can so easily be taken for granted.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Aside from painting, my favorite activity is hiking. What makes hiking even better is a really delicious destination! Hiking Intemann Trail to the Crystal Park Cantina in Manitou Springs is the best of both worlds. Beautiful vistas of Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak guide the way to a delicious meal of gourmet Mexican food and drinks. Even though I love hiking, I’m usually so full and ready for a nap that I choose to Uber back to the car. I know for a fact that my guest would appreciate this short cut as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The local art community in Colorado Springs is one of the most supportive groups I’ve ever been a part of. G44 Gallery and Kreuser Gallery have persevered through the pandemic, continuing to promote and exhibit artists without skipping a beat. Not only have they restructured their First Fridays in order to follow the public health ordinances, but they have also brought so much life to their virtual exhibits. Both galleries are a beautiful example of how to support and promote their artists regardless of the challenges we all face. In addition, I recently started exhibiting at Mystic Trinity Gallery in Evergreen. They not only opened during the pandemic, but because of their commitment to the community, they have thrived! The personable owners have gorgeously curated various styles of fine art from the Mountain West.

Website: LeliaDavisArt.com

Instagram: @leliadavisart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lelia.davis.739