"Why should i paint dead fish, onions, and beer glasses? Girls are so much prettier" [Marie Laurencin, 1885-1956, French painter]
About The Art
Leanne Hurley's electric
digital art fuses striking imagery with intense colours to produce an art
unlike anything else around today. Her 'digital art for a digital age' has
created huge waves thoughout Northern Ireland, and, utilising the internet,
has sold in Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas.
Born in Berlin in 1975,
Leanne Hurley has spent most of her life in Northern Ireland.
Renowned Irish artist, Terry Bradley , has referred to Leanne as 'Ireland's best up-and-coming artist' and counts himself amongst her many admirers.
The main focus of her work is the female form, producing images which present both the sensuality and power of the female species.
Leanne firmly believes that as technology is continually moving on we would be fooloish not to harness it and utilise it in an artistic way.
Her first show took place on December 5th 2004 at Michael Quinn Hairdressing, and her third show (and first solo show) ran from September 6th - 16th, 2005 at The Frameworks in Belfast
"Her artwork is startling in its vibrancy and passion" Irish News, September, 2005
"One to watch" UTV Live, September, 2005
"The women in Leanne's work have a ghost-like quality, refusing to engage with the viewer and floating tantalisingly just beyond the reach of fixed interpretation" Irish News, September, 2005
"If you aren't familiar with Leanne Hurley's name, it wont be long before you will be" The Belfast Beat, September, 2005
"Bold colours and striking images are a major theme running throughout her collection and they make for stunning viewing" The Belfast Beat, September, 2005
"The result is outstanding; beautiful representations, which are as rich in their symbolic meaning as they are in the use of colour" The Belfast Beat, September, 2005
"The very Rough with the Smooth title is emblematic: it encapsulates
the texture of the canvas, as most pieces have been hand finished in some
way to give a 3D textured effect" The Belfast Beat, September, 2005
"With titles such as Lust, Deliverance, Grunge, and Lost Soul, the pieces are both visually stunning and conversation pieces, which is surely the real purpose of art" Daily Ireland, September, 2005
"Specialising first in digital photography, she has sold work not
only in the UK and Ireland, but also in the US, Canada, France, Sweden, germany,
Belgium, Italy, Spain, and even as far away as Australia and New Zealand"
Newsletter, December 2004
The Gay Girls Guide is exactly that, a guide for gay girls. It's about your life, your issues, your hang ups, and foibles; cause they're mine too. It's written with girls who do girls (and those who want to) in mind and nobody else. No topic will be off limits, and nothing will be deemed too trivial or serious to be covered. I hope it'll be helpful and thought provoking. It's meant to be serious, but fun, and my tongue will be firmly planted in my cheek at times (if it gets no better offers). I also hope it'll help you realise that you're not quite as crazy as you think (well, at least no more than the rest of us).
I've been a lesbian all my life, a conscious one since I was 16 (that's 14 years) and an out one for 12. I've written for quite a few well-known queer publications around the world for over seven years and even published a small (yet appreciated) 'zine for non-straight women in Belfast. I've had girlfriends who were gay, bi, and, straight 'til they met me (and went back to be being straight after we finished - not quite sure if that's a good or bad thing!). I've had a girlfriend who had kids, one who was pregnant when I met her, and one with whom I'd liked to had children. I've been on-the-scene, off-the-scene, and at times just plain ob-scene. I've committed to relationships and played the field (tho' never at the same time). I've dated psychos, probably been one myself at some point depending on your definition, as well as being a girls 'first' and a woman's play thing...basically, I've been about; that's why I'm here now.
I don't know everything (despite what I regularly profess to anyone who'll listen), and compared to some of the amazing women working tirelessly in our small, unappreciated lesbian community, I know bugger all, but what I don't know, I'm more than prepared to try and find out. I'd love you to come with me as I try.
www.gaygirlsguide.co.uk"I have met and have known...a long galaxy of great women...those older women have gone on, and most of those who worked with me in the early years have gone on. I am here for a little time only and then my place will be filled as theirs was filled. The fight must not cease; you must see that it does not stop" [Susan B. Anthony] help keep the gay girls guide going