ARTIST STATEMENT
Leah Schenbaum’s most recent series focuses on the effects of climate change on women. The world’s rapid deterioration — with rising temperatures and increasing natural disasters — has heightened disparities for women and worsened gender inequalities.
“Educate Her Too” examines how young women and girls are often forced to sacrifice their education to nurture and rebuild communities after frequent natural disasters. Society pushes young men and boys to complete their education, leaving young girls at home without the same opportunity.
The storm clouds represent inclement weather, while a math notebook lies forgotten at her side as she cradles a baby. This baby is an allegory for the land and the new earth that needs to be raised and cherished, as represented by the green color and delicate plants covering its body.
Throughout history, women have been depicted as symbols of rebirth. This painting intertwines the natural landscape and the female figure to depict new life.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Leah Schenbaum is a portrait artist born and raised in Washington, DC. She is a Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumnus and is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts painting at Pratt Institute. The pieces she creates are often a commentary on the world around her, including politics and cultural influences. Her work presents a creatively realistic view of the world from a fresh perspective. Growing up in Washington, DC, has greatly influenced her art, as witnessing protests and policy changes firsthand in the Nation’s Capital has shaped her outlook. Her art frequently reflects personal experiences or current events that she uses her creative practice to process. Her recent works have been focusing on climate change as viewed through a feminist lens, and examining one overarching question: How does climate change impact women? She is a Scholastic Arts and Writing award Painting Gold Medalist and has shown her works at the University of Maryland, Baltimore SMC show, the Japanese Embassy’s Flower Festival, and The Society Inc. Youth in the Arts Showcase. Through her art, she hopes to encourage conversations about the world around us and the personal experiences of the viewer. She also aims to continue exploring different mediums and subject matters, pushing herself to learn and grow as an artist.
© Leah Schenbaum