Minna Leunig

Minna Leunig is a Melbourne based artist working primarily in black and white pigments to create playful, primal and earthy images inspired by the natural world. Her work is characterised by a wandering hand and an intuitive lyrical approach to aesthetics.

Having grown up in rural North-East Victoria, Minna spent countless hours throughout her childhood and teenage years with her dogs, wandering the bush on foot and on horseback. Here she developed a profound love and respect for the Australian landscape and all its life forms. The presence of animals both wild and domesticated, as well as the many botanical varieties found in her early environment have been a strong influence, and her work often pays homage to these plants and animals, seeking to illustrate them as unique species and individuals – full of character, personality and spirit, in a world that so often commodifies, devalues or destroys them. Her recurring motifs affirm the strength and integrity of  the natural world, and include the vital wild elements of joy, humour and beauty, inspired by the life force of the bush and a deep abiding connection to country and its creatures.

As well as having exhibited at galleries such as Backwoods, Outré, Juddy Roller, Montsalvat, Neon Parlour and Lamington Drive, Minna has a keen interest in bringing art out of gallery spaces and into the public realm through street art, working by the philosophy that art should be an integral part of everyday life, and accessible to all.