ABOUT LEAH
Leah Nadeau is a visual artist working primarily in acrylic, oil pastel, and ink. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she is currently based in the Portland, Oregon area.
Leah’s passion for art first took root in college during a contemporary art history class. What started as curiosity quickly grew into an insatiable hunger, a deep craving to immerse herself in the creative world. She found herself exploring museums, visiting artist studios, and absorbing everything the art world had to offer. Though she’s self-taught as a painter, her master’s degree in film theory quietly shapes the narrative woven into her creative process.
Leah’s vast social media platform is more than just a gallery for her art, it’s where she shares the real, sometimes tangled parts of her story. Diagnosed with ADHD and OCD at the age of seven, she’s lived with neurodivergence all her life. Instead of letting it hold her back, she’s learned to embrace it, finding strength in what makes her different. That perspective permeates her work, shaping both how she creates and how she connects with others. For Leah, vulnerability and resilience aren’t just chapters of her life, they’re the very heart of her art.
Her work has been exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions, including the Seattle Art Walk (2022), “Organized Chaos” with the Women United Artist Movement (2023), and “All About Women,” a juried exhibition at the Marin Society of Artists (2023). She is a featured artist in a permanent residency at the Henry Ford Health Cancer Pavilion in Detroit, and her public art installation has been on view in Grosse Pointe, Michigan since 2022. Leah’s work and story have been featured in Seattle Refined, Great Lakes by Design Magazine, Women United Artist Movement, and Bold Journey.
Deeply inspired by music and synesthesia, Leah often enters a state of flow when emotionally moved by sound. Her love of storytelling, rooted in her film studies, adds depth and intention to each piece. Recurring themes in her work include bridges, symbols of connection, and the rigid structures of urban architecture. Through her vivid, emotion-rich compositions, Leah’s mission is to make viewers feel fully alive, and deeply seen.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, University of San Francisco (2013)
Master of Arts, Aberystwyth University (2015)
ARTIST STATEMENT
In my artistic journey, I speak frequently about my struggles with mental health and aim to shed light on my experience with chronic pain. Chronic pain, with its varied manifestations, has profoundly impacted two significant areas of my life. In my late 20s, I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which affects my entire body, a disorder that causes extreme muscle pain due to a lack of collagen in my ligaments and connective tissue.
I struggle daily with both Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I have a busy inner world and strong fears that I can get stuck ruminating on. Despite these, I use artwork to shift my focus and create beautiful art.
Growing up, I struggled to be vulnerable and share my feelings with others. I had experiences that other children my age didn’t struggle with, so I felt Isolated. I feel it is my mission to challenge the stigma through my work so that others may be open and vulnerable about their struggles to diminish said stigma.
Having felt isolated in the past, I strongly believe that each individual’s experience deserves acknowledgment. I hope to inspire and support others navigating similar struggles by embracing vulnerability and speaking candidly about my challenges. Perhaps my story will encourage others to seek help, educate themselves about these issues, or foster greater empathy and understanding. Cultivating compassion has helped me with healing and personal growth and I strive to empower others to do the same.
Amid the turbulence of my journey, art has become my lifeboat. This unwavering sanctuary enables me to navigate the complexities of my existence rather than passively allowing life to happen to me. It is a steadfast anchor, carrying me through the darkest and most arduous days when pain threatens to engulf every fiber of my being. Through my art, I find solace, expression, and a profound means of healing. Within the deliberate strokes of my brush, the interplay of vibrant colors, and the harmonious shapes that emerge, I discover a wellspring of resilience and transformation. Art empowers me to transcend my circumstances, embracing the boundless beauty of creation and embarking on a profound journey of self-discovery. Through creating, I find solace, restoration, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Through art, I can overcome my circumstances and become resilient. Despite everything that has happened, I’m living my dream life. I Inspire others by sharing my courageous story and journey of learning from pain.
When starting a painting, I lay down the first layers of my work. As the composition emerges, my brain begins to quiet as I see the path I want to take with my brush on canvas. My inner world takes over from my busy brain and a story emerges, calming my inner narrative.
Although my OCD is rooted in fear of contamination, the possibilities of acrylic paint pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and choose that as my main medium, despite my fears telling me it was life-threatening. Facing this challenge was a big step in my personal and artistic journey. The acrylic medium transformed my style from watercolor florals that felt safe, to colorful geometric abstraction that set me free.
Exhibitions:
2023:
Women United Artist Movement - Solo show- "Organized Chaos"
Side Rail Collective- Georgetown Art Attack Group Exhibition
All About Women- Juried Group Exhibition - Marin Society of Artists
Exhibizone- Curves 2023 Group Exhibition
2022:
West Seattle Art Walk: Solo Exhibition
2021:
Henry Ford Cancer Center Pavillion: permanent artist residency
Roaring Artist Gallery: Powerful Little Things Exhibition & Market Participant
Lions and Rabbits Art Gallery: Artist residency at Cityflats Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI (through August 2022)
Detroit Artists Market: Holiday Market Exhibitor
2020:
Brewery Fasian: Solo exhibition, Detroit, MI
The Lemon Tree: Solo exhibition, South Lyon, MI
2019:
Great Lakes Coffee Co: Solo exhibition, Detroit, MI
2017:
Small Wonders: Group exhibition, Grosse Pointe, MI
2016:
Art Liaisons Gallery: Winter Gallery Featured Exhibitor, San Carlos, CA
Art Liasons Gallery: University Art Group Exhibition, June and July, Palo Alto, California
Press:
Artist Lane: Geometric Symphony: Leah Nadeau's Colorful Compositions (link)
Seattle Refined: Artist of the Week: Leah Nadeau (link)
Women United Artist Movement: Creating Rhythym Between Chroma and Contrast (link)
Bold Journey: Resilience: Meet Leah Nadeau (link)
Canvas Rebel: Meet Leah Nadeau (link)
Great Lakes by Design Magazine: Architectonics. Volume 5, Issue 6 (link)
I Love Creatives: Contemporary Abstract Painter Leah Nadeau (link)
Grosse Pointe Alumni and Friends: Leah Nadeau: Class of 2009 (link)
Ann Arbor With Kids: Color the Quarantine Coloring Book (link)