Andrea Liesting

I am a Canadian artist working with earth pigments and natural materials from my home studio on Vancouver Island. My multidisciplinary practice explores themes of place, time, transformation, and the environment. I am drawn to the raw textures of vast, weathered landscapes and to the processes of decay, erosion, and regrowth—both natural and cultural. My practice begins with a closeness to the land, where each material becomes part of an ongoing conversation.

I often hand-extract pigments from foraged sources using traditional methods adapted to my work, embedding a deep connection to my surroundings in every piece I create. Through site-specific visits and contemplative observation, I gather impressions and data, captured in sketchbooks, photographs, and material collections. My research combines scientific, historical, and cultural elements, shaping artworks that evolve slowly through both analytical study and intuitive response.

I create both two- and three-dimensional works, letting concept and context guide my choice of format and materials. I work predominantly with ethically sourced 100% linen cloth, hand-stitch, and hand-processed earth pigments to build layered surfaces that reflect narrative and place. My sculptural and woven pieces are constructed both on and off the loom, incorporating raw fibres, threads, twine, hand-forged metals, and formed clays. These materials flow fluidly throughout my practice, depending on the desired outcome of each piece—whether it hangs on a wall, hovers in space, or rests upon the floor.

Ecological, geological, and industrial motifs predominantly inspire my work. Each piece becomes a tactile dialogue between research, observation, material, and memory, rooted in a deep reverence for the land and the traces it leaves behind.