"Her bright abstract works come to life on the page, bringing with them senses of dense, forested jungles, swirling rivers, the laugh of a child." - Paige Ferro, Holter Museum of Art
Leah Cupino in her studio at Omerta Arts, 2024
Leah Cupino paints on both sides of her semi-translucent polymer surface by using an easel she designed for this purpose. (c 2019)
(Her most treasured creations in the studio. c 2017)
Artist Statement
"I hunt for a rapid instinctual affair of building on a surface. In ritual, I melt, mix, smear, scratch, drip, and drive into what I can touch right now. Vibrant pigments made from the earth are mixed with ash, snow, egg and oil.
I watch my brush and fingers advance; my interior landscapes are impulsively revealed in layers. The inviolable space I create is wholly my own yet lives on well without me."
- Leah Cupino
ABOUT
Leah Cupino might be something of a geo-erratic herself.
Having lived atop a volcano and in a dozen other landscapes before settling in Helena, Montana, she has spent her lifetime studying the forces that shape place and movement.
Her 20-year painting career has spanned loose landscapes, topographical abstractions, and now the boulders within them.
Through her work she weaves together themes of displacement, transformation, and what it mean to simply be a part of this earth.
In the recent past Cupino has established representation with The Bureau of Queer Art in Mexico City, Mexico showing in multiple regional art fairs and exhibitions in Mexico and California.
Cupino and her business partner Chris Riccardo, co-founded ‘Omertà Arts’ - a set of studios, classrooms, and gallery for artists dedicated to their non-profit programs in their community.
With more than 10 years of leading courses in adult arts education, she has most recently led courses at Carroll College and Helena College, sent all her three boys to school, built a family home, exhibited, curated, and sold her work across the country.
Leah has completed residencies with Art Gallery Studios, CDMX, Mexico, the Wolf Pack, in NYC, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Virginia Commonwealth University, and obtained a BA of Fine and Commercial Arts from Walla Walla University in 2003. (born. 1981, MA, United States)
Discover more about Leah here.
SEE it in person
You can find a more of Leah’s work as the solo featured artist collected at various Helena, MT locations including: a collaboration with Four-O-six, Parson’s Bell & Latimer, The Weaver Gallery at The Emmerson Arts Center, The Holter Museum of Art, The Jailhouse Gallery, St. Peter’s Hospital, Helena Home Team, Gold Leaf Physical Therapy, and StoneTree Climbing Gym.
She has curated over 200 different artists’ work at The Heath, The Holter Museum of Art shop, and The Jailhouse Gallery at The Myrna Loy Theater and Omertà Arts both virtually and in person.
Appointments can be made to visit her brick and mortar studio spot
Also see opportunities to learn.
Omertà Arts
800 Front St.
Helena, MT 59601
406-404-6359
by reaching out here