Bio July 2009

Upon moving to San Francisco from Duesseldorf, Germany, Katja Leibenath began compiling a detailed photographic diary of her surroundings; her paintings are often based on these studies. As reflections of her daily life and regional explorations, they are responses to her new environment and create a sense of place while allowing her to investigate the edges of this new-found civilization.

While exploring and photographing the environs, Leibenath noticed that the essence of California ― the abundance of its spectacular sights ― was easily lost under a haze of familiarity. In response, her paintings look for the noteworthy in the everyday, and beauty in the seemingly mundane; she is in love with every aspect of this region.

Elevating the image to another level by reproducing it in a different format, Leibenath chooses oil and canvas as her preferred medium. Her process is fluid; her paintings morph under multitudes of layers adding depth and dimension. Working with the painting over an extended period and bringing to it multiple perspectives, she imbues it with a poetic beauty that unfolds over time. Leibenath frequently works on series of related pieces and occasionally begins them Plein Air hidden under a large sun hat and working on a carefully perched easel.

Leibenath earned a Bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture from the Peter Behrens' School Of Architecture in Duesseldorf, Germany. She has a background in fine woodworking and holds a Letter of Journeymanship in furniture making. Her technical skills were acquired through regular Summer Studio School classes at the Academie Europeenne Des Beaux-Art in Trier, Germany.

Leibenath has been painting in San Francisco since 2006. Her work as been showcased at venues throughout the Bay Area including Hang Gallery, SomArts Gallery, Artist X-Change Gallery, The Lab, and Liquid Spaces.