‘Geo-Erratic Behavior’, 2024, Weaver Gallery, Emmerson Arts Center, Bozeman, MT USA

Leah Cupino’s ‘Erratic’ – A Journey Through Unpredictability and Transformation, Interview with Micheal Swank, TBQA
INTERVIEW w. MICHEAL SWANK on SUBSTACK

In our latest episode, we sit down with Leah Cupino to explore her newest body of work, Erratic. This Artsy.net exclusive exhibition, running from December 4th, 2024, to March 4th, 2025, is a bold investigation into impermanence, resilience, and the unpredictable forces that shape our world.

Drawing inspiration from glacial erratics—boulders transported across landscapes by glaciers or volcanic eruptions—Cupino reimagines these geological wanderers as metaphors for human experience. With shimmering silk chiffon paintings, sculptures crafted from recycled plastics, and innovative materials that blur the line between natural and manmade, her work challenges us to see beauty in transformation and chaos.

Join us for an in-depth conversation as Cupino delves into the inspiration behind Erratic, the tension between permanence and fragility, and how her art captures the relentless forces of nature. A favorite of The Bureau of Queer Art magazine and podcast, Cupino returns to share the journey of her practice, from mountain adventures to her studio in Montana.

Catch the full interview in 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 latest series, Geo-Erratic Behavior, captures the movement and energy of geo-erratics- 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 this series, Cupino brings their journeys to life with bold neon colors and dynamic compositions, infusing these ancient travelers with an electrifying energy. With each painting, she explores ideas of place, movement, and how even the most unshakable things can find themselves in unexpected new homes-including yours.

A complete solo exhibition at 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 likely 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 “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.

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.
TBQA VOL 3 — INTERVIEW on Substack or Spotify
Written Article
TBQA VOL 5 “ERRATIC” on Spotify
Written Article