Shelly Leitheiser

I am a visual artist in Minnesota, where climate change has become obvious.

My painting themes have evolved to focus on environmental, animal and human subjects. I focus on the wonders of the world, nature, and threats to the environment, because of my deep appreciation for our fragile planet. My paintings reflect the chaos and calm of nature, through the combined use of realism and abstraction. This both energizes me and at least partially satisfies my need to be doing something positive for the environment and the world.
Communicating these themes about the environmental and endangered animals, climate change and the need for sustainable living is very important to me. I love talking about environmental issues and painting about these themes helps create a dialogue with other people. I am devoted to painting about these issues, and creating a visual reference for people to picture these themes rather than just reading or hearing about them.