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Leila Ali (b.Bogotá, Colombia) is a visual artist and independent researcher. She lives and works in Austin, Texas.

 

Moving between modes of production based on photography, found image, collage, painting, and drawing, Ali investigates notions of place and memory. Her work employs portraits and landscapes to address connections between past and present, questioning the construction and reconstruction of memories in different contexts. Her most recent projects, focusing on plants and natural landscapes, have led her to become a botanical artist. Ali is currently creating a series of plant portraits, some of them inspired by the flora that thrives in cities, with a particular interest in those unruly wild plants that decide to take root in any urban space without human care.

 

Leila obtained her Bachelor's degree in Fine Art at the Academia Superior de Artes in Bogota. She also completed two master's degrees, one in Cultural Studies 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 at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. Her work has been included in numerous exhibitions in Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, South Korea, and the United States.

Leila Ali (n. Bogotá, Colombia) es artista visual e investigadora independiente. Vive y trabaja en Austin, Texas.

 

Moviéndose entre modos de producción basados en la fotografía, la imagen encontrada, el collage, la pintura y el dibujo, Ali investiga las nociones de lugar y memoria. Su obra emplea retratos y paisajes para abordar las conexiones entre el pasado y el presente, cuestionando la construcción y reconstrucción de memorias en diferentes contextos. Sus proyectos más recientes, centrados en las plantas y los paisajes naturales, la han llevado a convertirse en artista botánica. En la actualidad, Ali está creando una serie de retratos de plantas, algunos de ellos inspirados en la flora que prospera en las ciudades, con un interés particular en esas plantas silvestres rebeldes que deciden echar raíces en cualquier espacio urbano sin el cuidado humano.

 

Leila obtuvo su título professional en Artes Plásticas en la Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá. También realizó dos maestrías, una en Estudios Culturales en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, donde se graduó con Mención de Distinción otorgada por la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas; y otra, en Estética e Historia del Arte en la Universidad de São Paulo en Brasil. Su obra ha sido incluida en numerosas exposiciones en Colombia, Argentina, Brasil, Australia, Corea del Sur y Estados Unidos.

Exhibitions 

2023

 

 

2021

 

2021

 

2020

2019

2017

2012

2009

2006

2002

2000

1999

1998

 

1997

Program Artist-in-Residence | Wild Basin Preserve Creative Research Center | March-May | Austin, Texas – USA.

Campbelltown Arts Center. “Fisher’s Ghost Art Award” - Finalist Exhibition. Sydney NSW -  Australia

 

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

CICA Museum [Czong Institute for Contemporary Art].  “Objects” - International Exhibition. Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, - South Korea

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. 

Inspire9 - Industrial Creative Space. “Portable Kits” - Digital Photography. Melbourne VIC - Australia

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

 

La Macarena. “La Silla Vacía” [The Empty Chair]. Bogota DC - Colombia

Semana Center. “Salón Marginal de Arte - Semana” [Marginal Art Salon - Semana]. Bogota DC - Colombia

Art Faculty Galleries - Javeriana University and National University of Colombia. “Arte en Conserva”  [Art Preserve]. Bogota DC - Colombia

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  

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

 

Art and Culture Centre - Jorge Tadeo Lozano University.  Latin American Modern Art - Final Diploma Course Exhibition. Bogotá DC - Colombia 

 

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.

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.

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

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