Ali
Leila Ali (b. Bogotá, Colombia) is a visual artist and independent researcher. She currently lives and works between Austin, TX, and Los Angeles, CA. Moving between modes of production based on photography, collage, painting and drawing, Ali investigates notions of place, memory, identity and belonging.
Her work employs portraits and landscapes to address the connections between past and present questioning the construction and reconstruction of memories in different contexts. Having lived in five different countries for extended periods, her most recent projects present a personal approach that takes natural landscapes and the environment as a lens to reflect on the experience of relocating and what it means to belong to a place.
Leila Ali studied her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at the Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá (1997). She completed two master's degrees, one in Cultural Studies (2010) at the National University of Colombia, where she graduated with a Mention of Distinction awarded by the Faculty of Human Sciences; and another, in Aesthetics and Art History (2014) at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. His work has been included in numerous group exhibitions in Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, South Korea and the United States.
Leila Ali (Bogotá, Colombia) es artista visual e investigadora independiente. Actualmente vive y trabaja entre Austin, TX y Los Ángeles, CA. Moviéndose entre modos de producción basados en fotografía, collage, pintura y dibujo, Ali investiga nociones de lugar, memoria, identidad y pertenencia.
Su obra emplea retratos y paisajes para abordar las conexiones entre pasado y presente cuestionando la construcción y reconstrucción de recuerdos en diferentes contextos. Tras haber vivido en cinco países diferentes durante largos periodos, sus proyectos más recientes presentan un enfoque personal que toma los paisajes naturales y el medio ambiente como lente para reflexionar sobre la experiencia de reubicarse y lo que significa pertenecer a un lugar.
Leila Ali estudió su licenciatura en Artes Plásticas en la Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá (1997). Realizó dos maestrías, una en Estudios Culturales (2010) en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, donde se graduó con Mención Meritoria otorgada la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas; y otra, en Estética e Historia del Arte (2014) en la Universidad de São Paulo en Brasil. Su obra ha sido incluida en numerosas exposiciones colectivas en Colombia, Argentina, Brasil, Australia, Corea del Sur y Estados Unidos.
Education
2014
Master’s Degree in Aesthetics and Art History. Interfaculty Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic and Art History [PGEHA].
University of São Paulo [USP], Brazil.
2010
Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies. Faculty of Humanities.
National University of Colombia, Bogota, Colombia.
Thesis awarded with Mention of Distinction by the faculty.
1998
Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Latin American Modern Art
Vice-Rectory of Postgraduate Studies.
Jorge Tadeo Lozano University. Bogotá, Colombia.
1997
Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Superior Academy of Arts of Bogota - Faculty of Arts.
Francisco Jose de Caldas District University of Bogota, Colombia.
Selection of the latest complementary training courses and symposia
2022
Artist Career Training Program | City of Austin Economic Development Department | Austin, Texas – USA.
2022
Botanical Illustration | Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria Art School | Austin – TX, USA.
2021
Statement of Attainment in Building Creative Digital Imaging Skills - Capture Photographic Images | TAFE – Technical for Further Education | Sydney – Australia.
Exploring Photography, Shooting in Raw Mode and Photography Foundations Lenses | TAFE – Technical for Further Education | Sydney – Australia
2019
Light Matters – Contemporary Photographic Art Practice | Australian Center of Photography | University of Technology of Sydney, Australia.
2017
Photography in Focus. Festival of Photography | National Victoria Gallery [NGV] | Melbourne, Australia.
Connect / Disconnect: Experiences of Body & Place in the Network City | Digital Ethnography Research Centre | RMIT University | Melbourne, Australia.
2013
Pedagogical Preparation - Higher Education Improvement Program [PAE] | School of Communication and Arts [ECA] | University of São Paulo | Brazil.
2012
The Art of the Hereafter | Museum of Contemporary Art [MAC] | University of São Paulo | Brazil.
Actamedia 10 - The Emergence of the Reticular | School of Communications and Arts [ECA] | University of São Paulo, Cervantes Institute, and Library Da Vila | São Paulo, Brazil.
Exhibitions
2021
Campbelltown Arts Center. “Fisher’s Ghost Art Award” - Finalist Exhibition. Sydney NSW - Australia
2021
L.A. Photo Curator. “This Land is Your Land” - International Exhibition. Los Angeles, California - United States.
https://www.laphotocurator.com/this-land-is-your-land-curated-by-dianne-yudelson
2020
CICA Museum [Czong Institute for Contemporary Art]. “Objects” - International Exhibition. Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, - South Korea
2019
Campbelltown Arts Center. “Fisher’s Ghost Art Award” - Finalist Exhibition. Sydney NSW - Australia
LensCulture. “Art Photography Awards 2019” - Selected to be included in the Competition Gallery - Online.
2017
Inspire9 - Industrial Creative Space. “Portable Kits” - Digital Photography. Melbourne VIC - Australia
2012
University of São Paulo - Creative Center of Multimedia. “Ubicidades” [Ubicities] Artistic Experimental Event of Performance and Telematics. São Paulo SP - Brazil
Santa Fe Gallery. “Proyecto Rosa” [Rosa Project]. Bogota DC - Colombia
2009
La Macarena. “La Silla Vacía” [The Empty Chair]. Bogota DC - Colombia
2006
Semana Center. “Salón Marginal de Arte - Semana” [Marginal Art Salon - Semana]. Bogota DC - Colombia
2002
Art Faculty Galleries - Javeriana University and National University of Colombia. “Arte en Conserva” [Art Preserve]. Bogota DC - Colombia
2000
El Museo Gallery. ”Alternativas en Proceso” [Alternatives in Process]. Bogota DC - Colombia
Espacio Alterno Gallery. ”Imagenes que Navegan” [Sailing Images]. Bogota DC - Colombia
Portobello Art and Desing Center. Exhibition and Auction “El Arte de Dar” [The Art of Giving]. Bogota DC - Colombia
1999
Espacio 3300 Gallery. ”Reconstrucción de un Crimen - Reflexiones en torno al Collage” [Reconstruction of a Crime - Reflections around Collage]. Bogota DC - Colombia
Ministery of Culture of Colombia. Live Painting and Exhibition “Frente en Blanco - De la Tolerancia al Afecto” [Front in White-From Tolerance to Affection]. Bogota DC - Colombia
Museum of Modern Art of Bogota. “Primeros Premios Salones Nacionales 1940 - 1998]” [First National Art Awards 1940-1998]. Bogotá DC - Colombia
La Samaritana Hospital. “Salud Plástica!” [Art for Health!]. Bogotá DC - Colombia
1998
Art and Culture Centre - Jorge Tadeo Lozano University. Latin American Modern Art - Final Diploma Course Exhibition. Bogotá DC - Colombia
1997
Gilberto Alzate Avendaño Fundation. Salón de Agosto [August Art Hall]. Bogotá DC - Colombia
Gallery of the Superior Academy of Arts of Bogota. - Solo Exhibition /Graduation Thesis. Bogotá DC - Colombia
Residencies
2023
Program Artist-in-Residence | Wild Basin Preserve Creative Research Center | March-May | Austin, Texas – USA.
Awards
2021
Finalist. Fishers’ Ghost Art Award. Campbelltown Arts Centre. New South Wales, Australia
2019
Finalist. Fishers’ Ghost Art Award. Campbelltown Arts Centre. New South Wales, Australia
Publications
2022
2020