Leandro Solomons South African, b. 1987

Leandro Solomons was born in Hermanus, South Africa in 1987 but spent the whole of his childhood and formative years in Windhoek, Namibia. He started drawing at school as a young boy, and his parents soon enrolled him in his local School of the Arts, at the Katutura Community Arts Centre. Here he was educated in various artistic styles, with a strong grounding in basic drawing and John Muafangejo's distinctive style and print techniques. He built on this foundation, expanding into jewelry design and a variety of modern art methods, and gravitating towards projects which used wire, leather, and recycled materials as its primary media.

To make ends meet as a young school graduate, Leandro accepted commissions for wall murals and small artworks. With no safety net, and no means to further his studies, he had no choice but to use his talents to survive. Despite overwhelming odds, he successfully completed one ear at Windhoek College of the Arts, studying Product Development and Entrepreneurship. This helped him step into formal employment in his 20s, and while it put his art career on pause, he kept painting and drawing in his spare time.

Ever-curious about experimenting with new art styles, Leandro jumped at the chance to hone his skills in thread art. He is now dedicated to its perfection, using algorithmic methods and a determination to innovate and capture ever-complex imagery using only thread.

Leandro is inspired by his deep connections with his land of origin, Southern Africa, and its natural landscapes and cultural diversity. His fascination with vast expanses and desolate scenes can be traced back to his youth, and the many trips he enjoyed in the region - including to Etosha. 

His current focus is an in-depth exploration of African faces and their authentic portrayal, but he looks forward to expanding his body of thread art into ever more mind-bending subjects.