24/06/2026
Built from weathered wood, rusted metal, and organic matter, Leonardo Drew’s materials carry histories of their own. Often hand-altered in the studio—“burned,” “oxidised,” or “eroded”—they reflect personal memory, sociopolitical narratives, and themes of “mortality” and “time.”
Leonardo Drew’s works are always sculptural, although he tends to avoid making freestanding pieces. Instead, he will often mount objects onto panels or directly to the wall, which can be seen as a nod to his beginnings as a painter and draftsman.
The materials he chooses are of particular importance. They often reflect memories of his days in the projects, sociopolitical issues related to his African-American ethnicity, or themes of death, darkness, and decay.
Leonardo Drew () (b. 1961) was born in the USA. His practice unfolds as a visceral meditation on memory, material, and transformation—where “destruction” and “renewal” exist in constant tension, echoing the cycles of “decay” and “regeneration” found in the natural world.
🔗 Discover more about the artwork via the link in bio.
Artwork:
LEONARDO DREW (b. 1961)
Number 12C, 2015
Wood and paint
58 x 62 x 11 cm (22 7/8 x 24 3/8 x 4 3/8 in.)
