The T List: Six things we recommend this week
Covet This: Textured Paintings Made in Marrakesh
Lrnce, Laurence Leenaert’s line of ceramics, rugs and textiles made in collaboration with Moroccan artisans, took off soon after she moved from her native Belgium to Marrakesh in 2015. But while she derived much satisfaction from creating her wares, she wanted something that was just for her, so she started painting. Like her other works, her canvases are abstract takes on the sights of her adopted city and feature off-white backgrounds with free-form lines and shapes rendered in cheerful shades. They remained just for her until Freddie Burness, the director of London’s Cadogan Gallery, got a look at them, and the artist’s third show at the space is up now. As ever, the included works reflect Leenaert’s fascination with process and materials. She starts by collecting handwoven fabrics, which she cuts up, reassembles and stitches directly onto the canvas. This time around, she experimented with incorporating moodier colors and with using terra-cotta clay as paint, working on the floor and applying it with her fingers. “It’s not about the paintings but the possibilities, and they’re endless here,” says Leenaert, whose favorite of the pieces is titled “Route Étroite” (2022) and depicts, she says, “all the little roads of the city’s medina and all the little things that catch your eye as you’re finding your way.”
“Laurence Leenaert: Argile et Rêves” is on view through Oct. 8, cadogangallery.com.
