er·rat·ic /əˈradik,eˈradik/
adjective
not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable
noun
Geology: a rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is believed to have been brought from a distance by glacial action
Leah Cupino's latest series captures the movement and energy of erratic boulders displaced by ancient glaciers, volcanic eruptions, and time itself. These well-traveled rocks have left their mark on landscapes, histories, and even human imagination. Some became landmarks, others objects of worship, heated litigation, or national monuments.
“In a bold investigation into impermanence, resilience, and the unpredictable forces that shape our world, Cupino draws inspiration from glacial erratics—boulders transported across landscapes by glaciers or volcanic eruptions.”
— Curator M. Swank of TBQA
‘Geo-Erratic Behavior’, 2024, Weaver Gallery, Emmerson Arts Center, Bozeman, MT USA
The ancient travelers are infused with an electrifying energy of her color sets and brush work. In each painting, she explores ideas of place, movement, and how even the most unshakable things can find themselves in unexpected new situations.
Erratic Boulders - mixed media on polymer film, on display at The Emerson Center for the Arts, Bozeman MT
She reimagines these geological wanderers as metaphors for human experience highlighting the tension between permanence and fragility within the relentless forces of nature. With shimmering silk chiffon paintings, sculptures crafted from natural wool and recycled plastics her innovative materials blur the line between natural and manmade, her work challenges us to see beauty in transformation and chaos.”
— January 2025, part of Season 5 of The Bureau of Queer Art podcast, and discover how Leah Cupino turns the unpredictable into a stunning reflection of life, identity, and the power of change. Substack (Leah Cupino’s ‘Erratic’ – A Journey Through Unpredictability and Transformation, Interview with Micheal Swank, TBQA
INTERVIEW w. MICHEAL SWANK on SUBSTACK, Featured on ARTSY.NET 12.4.2024 - 3.4.2025) Small Erratic Boulder Paintings Below:
Acrylic, Oil & pastel on polymer film
18in w x 29in h
”Leah’s work stands out for its unique approach to art, serving as a symbolic map reflecting the human experience and the impact of humanity on our environment. With a keen focus on the diminishing glaciers, she draws parallel narratives between shrinking natural resources, artifacts, and the evolving human condition. Our conversation delved into the intricate connections she weaves, mapping the contours of a changing world and echoing the shifts within ourselves.” — curator M. Swank of TBQA
TBQA VOL 3 — INTERVIEW on Substack or Spotify , or written article
TBQA VOL 5 “ERRATIC” on Spotify or written article
Erratic on Silk IV
Ink, Acrylic, and oil on Silk Chiffon, 3 x 3 ft
The Weaver Gallery of the Emmerson Arts Center in Bozeman, MT has featured Cupino’s first exhibition of this emerging series. The large exhibition hall contained 35 acrylic, oil, and watercolor paintings ranging in sizes from five inches to five feet tall on polymer film and silk chiffon. A colorful historic ‘naturalization certificate’ accompanied a select number of works detailing their unique story of origin, mode of transport (ice sheet, flood, volcanic eruption, or fire), identifying visuals, composition and metrics, discovery, and current place of residence.
Select pieces have also been exhibited with “IMMORTAL: Exhibition Dia De Muertos 2025” in Mexico City, MX, and “Efimero: Vida, Muerte, y Arte,” held at Juan Rulfo Cultural Center in Mexico City from October 4th to November 2nd, 2024 Secretaria de Cultura CDMX, and during Semana Del Arte 2025 at Clavo Moviemento Siete, as a solo presentation on Artsy. net — TBQA VOL 8. - ERRATICS, and a quick INTERVIEW on Substack / Spotify, with an additional article written here.
