Hannaleah Ledwell (she/her) is an emerging artist born and based in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montreal. Rooted in moments of tenderness and vulnerability, her practice involves ongoing self-observation shaped by the experience of living with multiple chronic invisible illnesses.

Ledwell holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University and has exhibited in several Montreal galleries. Recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant in 2023, her work has been featured in the annual Parle-moi d’amour benefit exhibition for Les Impatients, as well as in Optimista: Film Talks for Brighter Tomorrows, alongside artists such as Innu poet Joséphine Bacon.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Through oil paint, I explore singular bodies shown from multiple angles, in various positions, and even across different temporalities within the same image. Drawing solely from my own recall as visual reference, I investigate how the body—and its relationship to the surrounding environment—can act as a vessel for expressing sensitivity, intimacy, and healing.

More recently, I’ve begun drawing on the experiences of others to deepen my inquiry into identity and invisible illness. Guided by the stories of people around me, I create from the mental imagery that arises through their accounts.

Informed by the somatic relationship between myself and the world, I attempt to translate the stories we tell ourselves—inviting the viewer to reflect on their own vulnerability and on the shared narratives that define our humanity.