PATRICK LEACH
PATRICK LEACH
Coast Salish / Interior Salish Nation
P’egpig’7lha (Frog) clan, St’át’imc Nation
Unceded St’бt’imc / T’нt’q’et Territories [Lillooet, British Columbia]
Canada
Photography & Ceramics
Patrick Leach is a well established St’át’imc artist and ceramicist who is known for his uniquely carved ceramics which reflect regional Snuneymuxw territory landscapes, geometric basket and fishing patterns and ancient rock carvings that are culturally significant to the region.
Patrick is of the P’egpig’7lha (Frog) clan and was raised in the T’ít’q’et community near Lillooet in British Columbia, Canada. His first interest in art began with photography, which he studied at North Island College in Courtney, BC. His photography debuted in magazines such as Red Skin and Say, and over the course of 11 years in his role as an on-scene fire fighter for BC Forests, he would go on to further develop his craft by documenting the unique natural landscapes of the area.
In his early 30's, Patrick was first introduced to ceramics by his brother George Leach and whilst completing a mentorship with Matthew Jacob [a well known First Nations photographer] he began to pursuit a career in ceramic arts under the tutelage of master potter Erdman Tuemp. His practice was deeply informed by the styles of both Erdman and the renowned Kwakwaka'wakw artist Steve Smith.
Patrick's ceramics are created using an Italian decoration technique called sgraffito, where by the surface of the pottery is carved into between various phases of glazing and firing to create images and patterns by revealing the raw clay underneath. This technique, though moslty attributed to 16th century European artistic traditions can also be found in the history of Islamic pottery as well as throughout Africa and East Asian in countries such South Korea.
The use of this technique, aligns well with preeminent techniques for carving wood and stone which have been practiced by Coast Salish & Interior Salish Peoples on the West Coast of Canada for over 5,000 years.
Patrick's choice of ceramics aims to not only further the development of these art forms through the use of new mediums but also see the creation of object known for their longevity that will aid in the preservation of St’át’imc cultural heritage; such as imagery and motifs associated with Coast Salish basketry and petroglyphs specifically located within unceaded St’át’imc territories.
Patrick’s work is known for its fine finishing, colourful glazes and bold yet intricate designs and is of particular interest in the Northwest Coast art market as he is the one of the only established First Nations potters working on the West Coast of Canada.
Patricks company P’egpig’7lha Studio & Gallery is based near Lillooet, BC and his work is widely exhibited throughout Canada and the Pacific Northwest in both museum and commercial collections. At Edgelands, we are delighted to be the first gallery in the UK to represent Patrick and his work.
