Annelisa Leinbach is a painter based in Berlin, Germany.

Artist statement about the work during the residency at Burnt Sienna Berlin

“The artist Annelisa Leinbach has been working in the Burnt Sienna studio over the autumn. Leinbach's large scale impressionistic oil paintings fill the room with evenly spaced, yet fast-paced energy. Working up a palette of subtle shades of blue and green, Leinbach creates a consistent set of marks across the entire canvas that convey to the viewer something unknown is occurring. They strike a balance between narrative and mystery that tells a story while leaving the viewer to complete the picture. The paintings leave a calming whole space for interpretation, yet they also are incredibly strong and almost frenetic. The paintings are heavily inspired by nature and layered like sediments, reminiscent of the geologist and painter Per Kirkeby. This is not a surprise, since the artist comes from a family of geologists. Leinbach is from Arizona and has recently graduated with BA honors from the Yale school of painting.” Text by Louise Lenz

Artist biography

Raised in Arizona in a family of geologists, Annelisa drew her first creative inspiration from camping in the deserts and mountains of the American Southwest. She seeks a deeper connection to nature via an interplay between scientific rationalism and spiritual mysticism.

Drawing from Renaissance oil painting technique and illuminated manuscripts as well as futuristic digital art and photo manipulation, Annelisa builds links between the distant past and an imagined future. She creates visual mythologies that help viewers find a sense of wonder in their everyday relationships with the land and ecosystems around them. She also has extensive experience working as an editorial illustrator for publications revolving around nature, science and technology, and philosophy.

Annelisa received her bachelor's degree in painting from Yale University. She has traveled to over 35 countries to take part in artistic projects, paint murals, and lead painting workshops. Clients include Freethink, Big Think, the Yale Art Gallery, the Phoenix Mural Project, Foundation OBRAS, The Art of Eating, and a variety of galleries and private clients. She also teaches guest workshops at arts centers on topics such as painting nature and sketchbook practice.