Leanne M Christie’s paintings are a testament to her powerful brushwork and her sophisticated manipulation of the oil paint medium. As an urban oil painter, Christie is fascinated by the idea that our memories are inextricably linked to the anchors in our environment and that as these anchors disappear through development, our memories fade with them and inevitably, we forget to remember. Christie’s work is a witness to the environment that witnesses our lives. Christie’s paintings can best be described as recordings of the conversations she has with her medium and her environment. Through her abbreviated marks, Christie invites viewers to engage with her work and to complete the conversation themselves through their own experiences and memories. Her work transforms oil paint from an inert substance into a powerful living language, allowing her to communicate complex themes and ideas. Christie’s unique approach to painting is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. By exploring the relationship between our memories and our environment, she challenges us to consider our own experiences and how they shape our understanding of the world around us. Christie captures the essence of urban life in all its vibrancy and contradiction, creating works that are both visually stunning and intellectually engaging. Born and raised in South Africa, Christie moved to the Canadian West Coast in the late 2000s after a period of 10 years abroad that had originated as a 2 week holiday after the completion of her Bachelor of Fine Art from Rhodes University, Makhanda in the Eastern Cape.