PAINTING
CHRISTOPHER LEACH
 
DETAILS
Oil on wood
145 x 135cm
2023
 
BIOGRAPHY OF THE ARTIST
Christopher Leach
Born in Brighton, England, Christopher Leach relocated to Vienna in 1998, where he has since established his artistic practice. Working primarily in graphite, charcoal, and oil, Leach has developed a distinctive visual language characterized by dramatic contrasts, rich textures, and a painterly sensitivity to light and atmosphere.
His figurative works explore the expressive potential of traditional drawing and painting techniques, with an emphasis on surface, structure, and materiality. Whether working on paper, canvas, or wooden panels, Leach creates images that balance technical precision with emotional depth.
Alongside his figurative practice, Leach has become widely recognized for his atmospheric cityscapes. Inspired by the ever-changing skyline of Vienna and other urban environments, these works are created using self-made rubber scrapers and brayers in an intuitive, gestural process. Rather than depicting the energy of the city itself, his paintings evoke its quieter moments—capturing an intimate sense of stillness and contemplation above the bustling streets below.
Leach's work has been exhibited extensively throughout Austria, Central Europe, and the United States. His exhibitions include presentations at Palais Auersperg, Villa Aurora, Galerie am Park, Galerie Freiwein-Kazakbaev, Metropolitan Art Fair in Vienna and Munich, Broadway Gallery in New York, and numerous other galleries and international group exhibitions.
Today, Christopher Leach continues to live and work in Vienna, producing paintings and drawings that invite viewers to pause, reflect, and experience the subtle poetry found in both the human figure and the contemporary urban landscape.