Heather V. McLeod

New York Academy of Art

The Ear Project, 2020
oil on panel, 34 x 60 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
The Ear Project is a collection of 160 individual portraits. There are so many ways to capture a sitter's identity, and I have found that a body part, so often overlooked, can say as much if not more about a sitter than the likeness of a face.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
I believe that doing what you love as an artist takes a great deal of support, and the AXA Art Prize can offer so much to an artist looking to establish themselves. It connects you with a community of like-minded people and gives you that confirmation to keep working.

With the pandemic forcing the world to rethink how we keep moving forward, do you feel encouraged or inspired in your own studio practice to persevere despite these challenges?
Art has always been a way for me to express myself. There will always be obstacles that make you pause and reevaluate what you're doing or why you're doing it, but I find that taking in what's going on in the world only gives me more to paint about.

Website: www.heathervmcleod.com
Instagram: @heathervmcleod