Circling

AN IDEA

Lesley Luce is a mixed-media artist driven by creative curiosity and a deep fascination with storytelling. Her intricate, concentric circle compositions are both visually striking and conceptually layered, transforming seemingly abstract forms into rich narratives. Each piece begins with an exploration of a chosen subject—whether personal, historical, or cultural—through meticulous research into stories, histories, and personal connections. These discoveries become the foundation for her meticulously crafted paper fragments and icons, each symbol representing an aspect of the overarching theme.

From afar, her works captivate viewers with their bold, circular designs, drawing them in with vibrant colors, rhythmic repetition, and precise craftsmanship. Upon closer inspection, the abstract gives way to a world of detail—repetitive fragments that reveal themselves as pieces of a larger story. The accompanying booklet, functioning as a legend or key, allows the viewer to decode these icons, encouraging curiosity and discovery as they delve deeper into the work's meaning.

Luce’s art bridges the space between abstraction and narrative, creating a unique interplay between process, symbolism, and viewer engagement. Each ring within her compositions holds a story, symbolic of the intricate layers of experience and meaning tied to her chosen subjects. Through this meditative and methodical process, Luce invites viewers to explore not only the themes within her art but also their own sense of curiosity and connection.

Lesley Luce

Lesley holds an Honours Fine Arts degree from Queen’s University and postgraduate certificates in Graphic Design (OCAD) and Public Relations (Humber College.) She lives with her young family in the Beaches Neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada.

  • Each piece begins with digital studies, where I design and scale the icons, playing with colour, rhythm, and composition. These digital explorations evolve into handmade prototypes, where I print, cut, and place each piece, refining the design further in paper. The final, large-scale handmade works range from 31 to 36 inches in diameter—intentionally sized to embrace the viewer without overwhelming them. A final handmade artwork can have between 7,000 and 9,000 pieces of paper.

  • Lesley selects subject matter that captivates her curiosity and imagination—often choosing themes she wishes to explore in greater depth. Through the design process, she deepens her understanding of the history and culture of each subject, mirroring the viewer’s own experience of discovering the details in her work. Her pieces are often inspired by primary or historical artifacts, which she integrates as source material. Past works have explored The Beaches Community and Canadian Music. Upcoming works will focus on Algonquin Park and the Group of Seven, women in Canadian music, and Toronto graffiti artists.

  • Each work comes with a separate legend explaining the source imagery of each icon used in the concentric rings. It is printed as a 6 × 6 book the viewer can keep and refer to.

  • Concentric circles have always captivated me because of their ability to draw the viewer’s eye inward, creating a contemplative experience. They represent the idea of community and home, with each layer reflecting different aspects of personal and communal identity, converging at a shared center of belonging.

  • It’s created on a wood panel, canvas, and incorporates acrylic paint and images and designs printed with
    ChromaLife100+ ink on archival paper. The concentric circles you see are made up of intricately decorated fragments of cut, printed and painted pieces of paper.

  • The shapes I use, especially the concentric circles, are chosen for their symbolic value and visual impact. Concentric circles naturally guide the viewer's gaze towards the center, creating a focal point that encourages closer inspection. For the other elements within the circles, like the fragments of paper, I select shapes that can be intricately detailed and fit together harmoniously. These shapes often incorporate archival images, icons and landmarks, adding layers of meaning to the piece.

  • I choose colours based on both their aesthetic appeal and their ability to convey the essence of the subject I'm depicting. For example, in pieces focused on specific neighbourhoods, I use colours that evoke the local environment or cultural vibe. I also consider complementary colours to create visual harmony and to enhance the vibrancy of the piece. The goal is to draw viewers in from a distance while offering a rich, detailed experience up close.