'Breastfeed', an exhibition of paintings by Leanne Pearce.

Leanne Pearce looks at breastfeeding both from a personal and professional standpoint. Guided by her own experience of being a mother of two daughters, the artist engages with the subject of maternity and its relation to contemporary society. The image of a mother feeding her child has many historical references, one of the most famous being the religious iconographic representation of the Madonna and Child. Yet, public breastfeeding appears to remain a controversy in the modern world. The increasing interest in this subject matter stems from the contrast between female power and vulnerability, the intimacy of the moment, the challenge of motherhood and the male gaze that tends to sexualise female breasts. Through her paintings, Pearce aims to portray this precious maternal bond in flesh and to reshape our perception of breastfeeding. She depicts herself with her children and other mothers with their babies in the moment that makes them equally strong and fragile. Ultimately, Pearce embodies both the complexity and lightness of being a mother and an artist at the same time.

About the artist:

Leanne Pearce has specialised in portraiture since the early 2000's over which time she has developed a fresh and dynamic approach to capturing the likeness and character of the sitter.

Since successfully completing her first degree in fine art at Northumbria University in the North-East, Leanne has been commissioned to paint many faces, some of which appear regularly in the public arena. She gained a place in the semi-finals of the ITV show A Brush with Fame in which she painted a whole host of celebrities including Tanni Grey-Thompson and Paul Nicholas.

Leanne broadened her artistic horizons some ten years ago when she undertook a second degree in Graphic Communications. This enabled her to gain a novel perspective of her work which influenced her artistic direction.

Recently starting a family of her own, Leanne has plunged herself headlong into the all-consuming, compelling and exceptionally lively world of babies and children. This testing environment has served as an inspiration for her work and has driven her to further develop and enhance her style. The artist’s portraits reflect the colourful character and beaming energy that emanate from each of her subjects. The work is large scale, simple, vibrant and fresh.