ARTFROMTHEHEART

ABOUT THE ARTIST

The unceasing bottom-left, top-right rhythm of needlepoint brings order to Leanna Leithauser-Lesley’s brain. She identifies with people who have stitched through the births and deaths of their lives and feels connected to a larger purpose through her work. Her freehand process of needlepointing portraits brings her closer to the fearless, enduring individuals who have lived life out loud.

All of her needlepointed portraits are freehand homages to people (mostly musicians) she admires. She chooses to focus on individuals who have taken chances and made differences in the course of their lives thereby changing the courses of our lives whether we realize it or not.

Leanna chose to needlepoint Sun Ra for the “Art from the Heart” auction because of his connection to Birmingham. Sun Ra was performing semi-professionally as a solo pianist by his mid-teens. He attended Industrial High School (now known as Parker High School) where he studied under the great John T. “Fess” Whatley, a demanding disciplinarian who was widely respected and whose classes produced many professional musicians.

Artist’s Instagram: @theneedlepointwarrior

Artist’s Website: needlepointfaces.com