LEAH K. TOMAINO | An Exclusive Interview

An Exclusive Interview With
LEAH K. TOMAINO
-Recycled Art-

“My artistic inspiration stems from the beautiful intricacies of nature. I am drawn to life’s cyclical nature and how it mimics the natural world. I begin with raw materials from trees, transforming them into paper bags.
These bags then undergo a process of recycling, painting, tearing, and collaging, ultimately culminating in artworks that pay homage to the original natural inspiration. The resulting pieces capture the essence of tranquil harmony found in the natural world.” – LEAH K. TOMAINO

Leah K. Tomaino received her BFA from Cooper Union, New York, and her MA from William Paterson University, New Jersey, both with concentrations in painting.  She also studied at The Studio Art School of the Aegean, Samos, Greece.
Leah is an adjunct professor at the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ. She teaches Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, and Drawing classes. Additionally, she is an art instructor for adult painting classes at Artworks Studio in Randolph, NJ.
Leah has taught workshops at the Children’s Museum, SoHo, New York, NY, and has received grants from the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, New York, NY. The National Association of Women Artists has recognized her award-winning work, as demonstrated by the NAWA Medal of Honor and Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Award, awarded in 2012 and by the State of New Jersey Senate & General Assembly in 2020.
Newspapers, international publications, and in-person television interviews have publicly lauded Tomaino’s work for its unique pioneering collage technique and bold content. It has been widely exhibited in galleries, universities, and museums throughout the USA and is in many private and public collections. Leah is a member of the National Association of Women Artists in New York.

An Exclusive Interview With LEAH K. TOMAINO
-Recycled Art-
By Ariel SU

Art Market Magazine: Leah, congratulations on being awarded the GOLD LIST 2024! It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to conduct this interview with you. Your extraordinary recycled art is captivating and truly one-of-a-kind. The level of detail you achieve using paper bags is remarkable. I’m curious about what inspired your passion for this unique art form. When did you first start cultivating this distinctive artistic style?

Leah K. Tomaino: Since 1999, I’ve been drawn to collage art, particularly through upcycling brown shopping bags.
The inspiration for this came about when my township introduced a mandatory recycling program, and I felt compelled to repurpose these bags rather than dispose of them. Initially, my collages featured plain torn brown bags as backgrounds, while the subject matter was crafted from painted bags.
(An example of an earlier work from 2005 is featured here on the left, “Blooming Prairie Fire”). However, they have evolved to have their entire surface covered with the painted bag pieces.

Art Market Magazine: It seems you feel a deep connection with nature. I’m curious about where this connection originated. Can you describe the environment you grew up in? Was it an artistic environment?

Leah K. Tomaino: I spent my childhood in Randolph, New Jersey, a tranquil suburban township where I currently live and work. Growing up, I was enamored by my mother’s beautiful garden, which sparked my own passion for gardening. The vibrant flowers I cultivate serve as a wellspring of inspiration for me. I tend to be inspired by the flowers that I plant and nurture. I photograph them from year to year, and most of them have become the subjects of my artwork.
My grandmother, a remarkably creative individual with a penchant for fashion, also dabbled in painting. My mother recognized my early affinity for art and she enrolled me in an oil painting class when I was just five years old.
The very first painting I created, depicting Forsythias, continues to adorn the walls of my mother’s home.

Art Market Magazine: You dedicated yourself to academic pursuits for many years, culminating in a BFA from Cooper Union in New York and an MA from William Paterson University in New Jersey, both focusing on painting. In the past, we’ve encountered artists who expressed skepticism about the value of formal art education, claiming that it might stifle individual creativity. Can you share your perspective on the impact of your years of study and how they have shaped your artistic growth and development?

Leah K. Tomaino: I have always regarded one’s education as being of high importance. It was an honor to be accepted into The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, based on merit, where the founder, Peter Cooper, believed that education should be as free as the air that we breathe. I never felt stifled. I do remember feeling inadequate compared to the cream of the crop, which was the student body. 
Formal art education is required if one wants to teach in a higher educational institution, so earning a degree is valuable. My education helped me learn about the discipline required of those who want to pursue their art on a professional level. It takes a lot of alone time to create art.

“Our largely urban society has dulled our ability to appreciate our natural surroundings, to see the wonder in a tree, the mysterious magic in a flower, and the resultant peace and contentment that can fill one’s heart.”
– LEAH K. TOMAINO

Art Market Magazine: Your art emphasizes landscapes, lush vegetation, and vibrant flowers created in captivating compositions. Are these artworks based on photography? Can you describe the workflow? Do you prefer to hand-sketch your ideas or utilize digital apps to prepare and refine your compositions beforehand?

Leah K. Tomaino: Indeed, my artwork is inspired by the beauty of the natural world. I capture the delicate elegance of flowers I cultivate in my garden or encounter in my everyday surroundings. Additionally, my landscapes reflect the breathtaking scenes I have witnessed during my travels. On the rare occasion that a friend’s photograph surpasses my own, I may integrate it into my work, but such instances are few and far between! Haha!

I rely on my personal collection of photographs to facilitate my collage technique, which involves a substantial amount of waiting for the paint to dry. Instead of using digital tools or software, I prefer to rely on my own intuition and creativity. I examine the colors required for my composition and then paint swatches on paper bags to create my color palette. Afterward, I concentrate on the background, which must be affixed to the canvas before any additional elements can be attached. I tear the dried, painted bags and adhere the pieces according to their distance from the foreground. When I require intricate organic shapes, I sometimes employ white charcoal to sketch directly onto the paper bags.

Art Market Magazine: What philosophical concept underpins your art? What message do you intend to convey to your audience, and what reactions do you observe from visitors arriving at your exhibitions?

Leah K. Tomaino: The foundational philosophy behind my art is centered on harmony with nature’s awe-inspiring beauty, living in the present moment, and showing genuine respect for the environment. Through my art, I endeavor to communicate these values to those who view it.
When first-time visitors see my work hanging in an exhibition space, they think they are looking at a painting. As they get closer to my artwork, they discover they are viewing a collage that involved a painstaking genesis in the studio, requiring many months or years of work.

Art Market Magazine: You are an adjunct professor at the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ, teaching two- and three-dimensional design and drawing classes. Do you find this role rewarding? Do you enjoy investing in students and helping them unlock their creativity and potential? What is your impression of the younger generation of artists, and what do you hope for from these young artists?

Leah K. Tomaino: Indeed, I find my role as a teacher to be very rewarding! I teach a high percentage of beginners. It is awesome to witness the “Aha!” moment when a student learns a new skill. I enjoy serious students who want to learn. Throughout my formal education, I encountered many art professors with inflated egos, which I found unattractive. 
When I am teaching, I make sure to find a way to give a positive critique and point out what could be helpful to improve a student’s work.
I think it is essential to be humble and encouraging. This younger generation is an exciting mix that has grown up with a computer screen as babies and a cell phone in their pockets since they were twelve years old, so they are very technologically advanced. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic did not help them with socialization.  I hope they can learn some old-school art and social skills without using digital apps and computer screens. 

Art Market Magazine: As a renowned artist with international acclaim, you have successfully presented your artwork at esteemed exhibitions and art fairs. When reflecting on your artistic development during the years, what has proven to be the most challenging aspect of the field? Additionally, we are keen to gain insight into your views on the contemporary art scene, especially about artistic progression, interaction with galleries, sales, and participation in art fairs.

Leah K. Tomaino: Even with the success that I have experienced, I have many challenges: One of the most challenging aspects of the field is rejection, which I still experience. In 2006 and 2007, I created two collages that dealt with this subject matter: one was titled “Dear Artist,” and the other was titled “Sincerely, the Curator.” Instead of the brown bags, both collages had their backgrounds filled in with printed rejection letters that I received from galleries and museums.
The artist must keep their chin up, continue to pursue their art, and keep trying to exhibit in respectful spaces that hang their work with integrity. 
Disciplining one’s time is also a significant challenge.
I try to do something for my art daily, whether painting or working behind the scenes, such as applying to new exhibits or working on my website.  I am challenged by trying to network, shmooze, and speak up for myself and my artwork. I find it easier to have my artwork speak for itself.

I have mixed feelings about the contemporary art scene. My artwork is a time-consuming challenge, and I appreciate seeing other artwork that I feel has merit. Not everything one sees in today’s art world requires the time or craft I spend on my work. 
When teaching students about the history of 3-dimensional Design at The County College of Morris, I must introduce them to the 20th-century “readymades” of Marcel Duchamp.  In the 21st century, I find conceptual art even more challenging. But if someone wants to spend a large sum for a piece of fruit duct-taped to a wall…so be it. Challenging as it is, I must accept that “Art is whatever you can get away with,” as said by Andy Warhol.

Art Market Magazine:  Are there any upcoming exhibitions scheduled for the remainder of 2024 or in the forthcoming year of 2025? Where can our readers find and view your artwork?

Leah K. Tomaino: I am thrilled to have connected with Art Studio Hamptons Gallery at 108 Main St. in Westhampton Beach, New York. My artwork will be featured in upcoming group exhibitions at the gallery, and I am truly fortunate for this opportunity. As a proud member of the National Association of Women Artists in New York, I regularly participate in group exhibitions with them. Furthermore, I actively seek opportunities to exhibit my artwork and apply for exhibitions throughout the tri-state area.

See the article in the GOLD LIST 2024 Special Edition #8

Website: www.leahktomaino.com | Instagram: @lktomaino | Facebook: @leah k. tomaino