Kira Leigh is an artist whose work explores the complexities of gender, sexuality, and the female body. Inspired by Salvador Dalí’s paranoiac method of creation, Leigh uses her drawings and paintings to exorcise personal anxieties and demons. Her pieces often feature female nudes that challenge societal norms: they are highly sexual but not sexualized, possess body hair but remain attractive, and are objectified in sexual situations while being physically unattractive.
Leigh’s depictions of the female form reflect her experiences as a woman in an oppressive western cis-gendered Christian white male society. She employs bright, anime-inspired symbolism and color palettes, drawing from her early life as an anime enthusiast. Her works frequently incorporate unconventional materials such as highlighters, gel pens, glitter, and sharpie markers. Additionally, Leigh uses facial makeup in her art to comment on the unrealistic physical standards imposed on women.
Leigh’s portrayal of the male gaze is an honest depiction of how she experiences it—as a gross invention designed to strip women of their inherent power and reduce them to objects for heteronormative male consumption. Her work is deeply personal and driven by her experiences with anxiety and depression, which serve as catalysts for her critique of contemporary societal standards and culture.
