Artist Statement

I have sometimes fallen between the intersections of art and poetry, and after some years of practicing as a poet-for-hire, I came to understand ‘poet’ as a verb; an action word. The action is always a labour of love or longing, and love is always changing and is understood more deeply and sweetly over time. Sometimes this practice echoes grieving, and lately my works become records of something I notice in time. They express healing, loss, fears, hope, humour, and my memories.

My recent works combine surreal and natural elements, influenced by printmaking, and finished by fire. Figurative at times, I am attempting to make these works take up more space and depart from the usual. My recent works are a fusion or memories familiar landscapes and dreams.

Biography

Leah Benetti (b. 1994) is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, and educator based in Truro, Nova Scotia. Her work spans ceramics, printmaking, drawing, watercolours, and poetry, often exploring themes of memory, grief, healing, and the natural world.
Benetti earned her BFA in Cross-Disciplinary Art: Publications from OCAD University in 2020 and previously studied studio arts at York University, focusing on printmaking and installation. She has exhibited her work in various group shows across Nova Scotia and Ontario. Her creative practice includes analog and site-specific installations, artist books, and spontaneous poetry performances, often under the pseudonym "pseudonym." ​
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Benetti teaches visual arts and ceramics to youth and adults. She collaborates with her mother, Danielle Sawada, at Thrown Together Pottery, where they combine wheel-thrown ceramics with carved and decorated surfaces. ​

Benetti's work has been featured in publications such as CBC News and The Link Newspaper. She is an active member of the Truro Art Society and Visual Arts Nova Scotia.