Leah Petrucci is a glass artist with a focus on sculptural, installation, and interactive work. After graduating with her BFA with Distinction in 2010 from the Alberta College of Art + Design (now Albera University of the Arts), Leah continues to make Calgary home.
The concept of ‘home’ serves as a constant influence in Leah’s life and her work. As a mother of five, her strong sense of community and connections to family serve as a constant source of inspiration. Leah’s work explores identity, and how it relates to childhood, memory, and home. She utilises colour and pattern to evoke memories of toys and games from our youth and imbue a sense of whimsy and play into her work.
“I feel play is an important part of our life, creating a space for social bonding, peace and development through learning and interacting."
It is in this notion of interactivity where Leah is currently moving her practice. Exploring strategies that carry messaging and embody experiences, Leah is enthused to create work that facilitates a more interactive experience between her work and the audience. It is Leah’s belief that in this fusion of interactivity and art, a viewer can be more than just an admirer, they can be an essential component within the work itself.
In 2021 Leah was an Artist in Residence at Fuse33 Makerspace, a shared workshop space that supports artists to develop new skills to add to their practice. It was here where Leah had the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with lights, sensors, gears, and other technical components that allow her to create both movement and interactivity in her work.
Leah’s goal is to design artwork that creates opportunities for people to come together and interact with the art, to instigate in them a feeling of belonging and community. It is here where Leah believes we can find a sense of place and home, and enjoy fun and youthful play.
The concept of ‘home’ serves as a constant influence in Leah’s life and her work. As a mother of five, her strong sense of community and connections to family serve as a constant source of inspiration. Leah’s work explores identity, and how it relates to childhood, memory, and home. She utilises colour and pattern to evoke memories of toys and games from our youth and imbue a sense of whimsy and play into her work.
“I feel play is an important part of our life, creating a space for social bonding, peace and development through learning and interacting."
It is in this notion of interactivity where Leah is currently moving her practice. Exploring strategies that carry messaging and embody experiences, Leah is enthused to create work that facilitates a more interactive experience between her work and the audience. It is Leah’s belief that in this fusion of interactivity and art, a viewer can be more than just an admirer, they can be an essential component within the work itself.
In 2021 Leah was an Artist in Residence at Fuse33 Makerspace, a shared workshop space that supports artists to develop new skills to add to their practice. It was here where Leah had the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with lights, sensors, gears, and other technical components that allow her to create both movement and interactivity in her work.
Leah’s goal is to design artwork that creates opportunities for people to come together and interact with the art, to instigate in them a feeling of belonging and community. It is here where Leah believes we can find a sense of place and home, and enjoy fun and youthful play.