Leigh Ledare (born 1976) uses photography, archival material, text and film to explore human agency, social relationships, taboos and the photographic in equal turns. Through a wide span of artistic practices, Ledare examines issues related to desire, identity, and morality.

Life and work

Ledare was born in

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

, Washington. He first gained recognition through his exhibition and artist book titled ''Pretend You're Actually Alive'' (2000-2008), which examines the complex relations between the artist and his mother – namely, how she used intimacy, eroticism, and vulnerability to negotiate the balance of power within the family.

"The resulting images are often sumptuous, saturated with color, and surprisingly beautiful. But they also, and importantly, disconcert the viewer, making us uncomfortable, and, in the process, raising questions about the functioning of the image and the construction of subjectivity in contemporary culture." Ledare has continued this examination into personal relationships with works that feature images of his collectors, patrons, and ex-wife, often in sexual situations.

In 2009, Ledare was included in an exhibition ''Ça Me Touche'' (''Nan's Guests'') curated by

Nan Goldin Nancy Goldin (born 1953) is an American photographer and activist. Her work explores in snapshot-style the emotions of the individual, in intimate relationships, and the Bohemian style, bohemian LGBT subcultural communities, especially dealing w ...

Arles Arles ( , , ; ; Classical ) is a coastal city and Communes of France, commune in the South of France, a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Reg ...

France as part of the annual

Rencontres d'Arles The Rencontres d'Arles (formerly called ''Rencontres internationales de la photographie d'Arles'') is an annual summer photography festival founded in 1970 by the Arles photographer Lucien Clergue, the writer Michel Tournier and the historian ...

photography festival. Writing in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

,'' Roberta Smith said that Ledare is "taking us deep into the darkness and torment that drive many artists." In the series "Personal Commissions" Ledare "answered personal ads from women whose desires echoed those of his mother's, and paid them to photograph him in their apartments, in a scenario of their choosing." He has taught at

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

;

California Institute of the Arts The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a Private university, private art school in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for ...

;

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, New York;

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

; and the Fondazione Spinola Banna per l’Arte, Italy.

Publications

* ''Pretend You’re Actually Alive.'' PPP in collaboration with Andrew Roth, New York, 2008. * ''Leigh Ledare, et al.'' Milan: Mousse, 2012. * ''Double Bind.'' Bruxelles, mfc-michèle didier, 2012. mfc-michèle didier. * ''Anna and Carl and some other couples.'' Nic Guagnini. PPP Editions in collaboration with Andrew Roth, New York, 2014. * ''Double Bind Conversations.'' Co-authored with Rhea Anastas. New York: Art Resources Transfer, 2015.

Exhibitions

* 2009: ''Ça me touche'' (''Nan's Guests''), curated by Nan Goldin,

, France. * 2010: Nominated and exhibited at the Rencontres d'Arles Discovery Award, France. * 2010: ''The Confectioner’s Confectioner,'' Pilar Corrias Gallery, London. * 2012: ''Leigh Ledare et al,'' WIELS, curated by Elena Filipovich. * 2012: ''Double Bind - Leigh Ledare,'' mfc-michèle didier, Paris * 2013: ''Leigh Ledare, et al.,''

Kunsthal Charlottenborg Kunsthal Charlottenborg is an exhibition building in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the official exhibition gallery of the Royal Danish Academy of Art. History Charlottenborg Palace was constructed in 1672–83 as a residence for Ulrik Frederik Gy ...

, Denmark * 2014: ''Leigh Ledare'', Mitchell-Innes and Nash Gallery, New York. * 2016: ''The Here and the Now'', Manifesta 11, Helmhaus Kunsthalle, Zurich, Switzerland. * 2016: ''Place du Jardin aux Fleurs'', Office Baroque, Brussels. * 2017: ''Vokzal'', The Box, Los Angeles. * 2017: ''The Plot'', Art Institute of Chicago.

Films

* The Task (2017)

References

External links

Biographical Information on the artistLeigh Ledare by Chris Kraus
''

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'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Ledare, Leigh 1976 births Living people American contemporary artists Columbia University School of the Arts alumni