The following interview provides an intimate look into the creative world of visual artist and photographer Leanne Trivett S. Her early training in musical theatre and her professional experience as a singer and stage performer lend a unique perspective to her visual work, where narrative, gesture, and emotion intertwine with the photographic composition.
Through vibrant self-portraits, the poetic use of flowers, the exploration of dualities, and a relentless search for inner identity, Leanne reveals her ability to translate theatrical experience into a profound and personal photographic language.This conversation invites us to discover the roots of her inspiration, the value she finds in the nuances of imperfection, and how her environment, teaching, travel, and various family influences merge to shape her artistic expression. [Official Website][Magazine]
Your background is in musical theatre, and you graduated with a BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. How did you transition from performing arts to photography and visual arts?
My background in music, theatre, and training at New York University deeply shaped how I see and interpret the world. For me, performance has always been about storytelling—expressing emotion and narrative. Whether on stage or through the lens of a camera, the essence of creating meaningful moments remains the same. Photography became a natural extension of that desire to capture stories, but in a different medium. The discipline and training I had as a performer gave me a deep understanding of timing, composition, and the importance of capturing emotion in a single moment—much like how a stage performance relies on creating emotional connections with an audience in real time.
The shift to photography came as a result of a growing curiosity and appreciation for visual storytelling. The transition wasn’t so much a departure from performing arts, but more of an evolution of my creative voice. Photography became a way for me to tell stories in a still, yet profoundly expressive way, and I’ve found that my background in the arts has enriched my approach to visual storytelling, allowing me to bring a unique perspective to the images I create.
How has your experience as a professional singer and performer influenced your approach to creating characters and self-expression in your photographic work?
As a professional singer, I’ve always had to tap into different emotions, characters, and narratives—whether through lyrics or stage presence—because each performance is about telling a narrative and creating a connection. That mindset really informs my photography. I approach each photo with the same intention: to capture not just an image, but the essence of a person or a moment. Just like I would explore different layers of a lyric, I try to bring out the depth and complexity of my subjects in a way that feels genuine and raw. Whether I’m photographing a person or a scene, I think about it like I would a song—what’s the emotion, what’s the story, and how can I make that come alive visually?
You are known for your colorful and contemporary self-portraits and your work with florals. What draws you to these subjects, and how do they reflect your artistic vision?
As a visual artist, my approach to self-expression is deeply rooted in both the emotions I experience on stage and the rich artistic influences from my family. My paternal grandmother, a porcelain painter, instilled in me an appreciation for the delicate beauty and depth of flowers. When I capture florals in my photography, it’s as if I’m honoring her legacy and channeling the emotions she conveyed through her artwork. Each bloom tells a story—just as every character on stage does—capturing moments of fragility, strength, joy, or sorrow.
On the other side, my maternal grandmother was a music teacher, and music has been a part of my life from the very beginning. It has always been a language I could use to express what words cannot. Whether it was through a song or a note, music taught me how to communicate on a deeper level, and I carry that sense of rhythm and harmony into my photography. Just as a melody can evoke emotion, I see my images as visual compositions that resonate with the viewer, connecting on an emotional level.
Together, these influences—the art of story and the soul of music—shape how I approach my work. It’s not just about the image; it’s about capturing a feeling, a moment, an essence. And through this, I’m constantly exploring and expressing the layers of myself.
In your artist statement, you mention exploring the “interplay of details and color in the realm of emotion.” Could you elaborate on how you use color and detail to convey emotions in your work?
Color and detail are essential elements in my work, acting as a visual language through which I communicate the complexities of human emotion. In my photography and visual collages, I use color intentionally to evoke specific feelings or moods. For example, soft, muted tones might suggest introspection or vulnerability, while bold, vibrant hues can express intensity, passion, or joy. The interplay of colors can create a tension or harmony within the piece that mirrors the emotional undercurrents I’m exploring.
In my self-portraiture, I often use color not just to represent a mood, but to embody different layers of identity and experience. I might immerse myself in saturated pinks or deep blues to communicate specific emotional states, or play with contrasts to evoke a sense of conflict or transformation. Each moment—the way light falls, the texture of the surface, the juxtaposition of elements—adds another layer of meaning, inviting the viewer to feel something deeper and more nuanced.
The details in my work, whether in the fine textures of a collage or the intimate framing of a photograph, serve to draw the viewer’s eye to the subtleties that are often overlooked. They mirror the complexity of human emotion: never simple, always shifting, and often best understood through close attention. It’s this combination of rich detail and color that allows me to create pieces that feel both personal and universal, reflecting the internal landscapes we all navigate.
Your self-portraiture seeks to narrate and construct identity by connecting psyche, spirit, ego, and soul. What motivates you to delve into these aspects of identity, and how do you approach portraying them visually?
My self-portraiture is driven by a desire to explore the complexity of identity, particularly how the soul and mind intersect and inform one another. I’m motivated by the understanding that our sense of self is not static, but fluid and multifaceted. By delving into these layers, I seek to reveal the hidden aspects of my own identity—those that may not always be visible on the surface.
Visually, I approach this by using symbolic elements, light, shadow, and sometimes abstraction to reflect the internal states and emotional truths that shape who I am. It’s about capturing a moment of self-revelation, one that invites both personal reflection and universal connection.
Color for me is more than a palette—it sets an emotional tone, with contrasts that mirror the push and pull of both personal and universal experience. Detail plays a similar role, revealing hidden emotions through the smallest gesture, texture, or play of light. Like a performer expressing emotion through subtle shifts, I use these details to capture what often goes unnoticed, bringing depth to the story within each image.
You describe capturing scenes from your “play,” including the outtakes. Can you explain this metaphor and how it influences the storytelling in your photography?
I see life as a kind of play, where every moment is a scene—sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous. The outtakes, those raw, unpolished moments, are often the ones that reveal the truest emotions, the unscripted truths we might overlook in our search for perfection. In my photography, I embrace this metaphor by capturing not just the ‘perfect’ moments but the behind-the-scenes, the in-between, the moments of vulnerability or imperfection. These outtakes are as important as the final image because they tell a deeper story about who we are—real, complex, and alive. The imperfections add richness to the narrative, just like in a play, where the moments of imperfection can be the most revealing and human.
Your work often explores themes of duality and the “complicated fringe” of your personality and relationships. How do you navigate these complexities in your art, and what do you hope viewers take away from this exploration?
In my work, duality isn’t something to resolve but to explore, to let it coexist and reveal something deeper about the self and relationships. As a Pisces, I’m drawn to the ebb and flow of inner contradictions—the quiet pull between light and dark, strength and fragility. My art becomes a space where these dualities can exist without needing to be resolved. I navigate these complexities by trusting my intuition, allowing the raw, untamed edges of my emotions and relationships to surface. Through this exploration, I hope viewers are reminded of their own hidden layers and contradictions—finding beauty in the messy, unspoken parts of themselves that often go unnoticed.
All of your imagery comes from photographs you personally take with your cameras. How important is the act of capturing your own images to your creative process, and what role does this play in your connection to the work?
Capturing my own images is essential to my creative process—it’s a way for me to stay intimately connected to my emotions and instincts. As an artist, I thrive on the connection between my inner world and the external one, and photography becomes a bridge between the two. The act of taking the picture is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. This personal involvement allows me to infuse each image with a part of myself, creating a deeper, more intimate relationship with the work.
You’ve exhibited your award-winning artwork nationally and internationally in venues like the Los Angeles Center for Photography, the Griffin Museum of Photography, and galleries in Rome, Budapest, and Barcelona. How have these experiences impacted your artistic journey and development?
Exhibiting my work in such diverse and respected spaces has been a humbling journey, one that has deeply expanded my perspective. Each new venue, from the USA to Europe, offers a unique energy and a different way of seeing the world. These experiences have helped me grow as an artist by challenging me to push boundaries, refine my voice, and connect with others on a deeper level. I am grateful for the accolades and most thankful for the quiet moments of reflection they’ve allowed me—to continue seeing images everywhere, to stay open, and to remember that art is always about sharing something raw and vulnerable.
“When I’m behind the camera, I approach each subject like I would a character—looking for the story, the emotion, the truth behind the surface.” – Leanne Trivett S.
You’re currently teaching at Santa Fe Workshops, Chicago Botanic Garden, and Pacific Northwest Art School, as well as giving art talks internationally. How does teaching influence your own work, and what do you enjoy most about engaging with students and audiences?
What I love most is the connection: when students light up with new insights or push beyond their own limits, it sparks something in me too. It’s a reminder of why I create: to inspire, to explore, and to connect. Teaching is an extension of my art, a way of giving back and growing in the process. It’s not just a profession for me—it’s a calling, deeply rooted in my family’s legacy of educators. My grandmothers and mother were all teachers, and they taught me the power of sharing knowledge and standing by your work with pride. When I teach, I pour my heart into it. It’s humbling and energizing, and it keeps me grounded in my own artistic journey.
Traveling and creating in your artist studio near Asheville, NC, seems to be an important part of your life. How does your environment and travel experiences shape your artistic expression?
My art thrives in the in between spaces of my the quiet sanctuary of my studio at home and the dynamic energy I find while traveling. At home, I immerse myself in the intimate details of flowers and self-portraiture, exploring themes of growth and identity. Traveling, however, exposes me to new perspectives and culture that awaken fresh inspiration. Both environments fuel my creativity, allowing me to explore the contrast between stillness and movement, the familiar and the unknown.
Looking ahead, what themes or concepts are you excited to explore in future projects, and how do you envision your work evolving?
I am excited to step into this next chapter of my creative journey, where new collaborations and uncharted territories invite the new. My work continues to evolve, driven by themes of transformation, connection, and the subtle, profound relationship between the self and the world around us. As I explore new mediums and embrace unexpected ideas and partnerships, I aim to challenge myself—pushing boundaries, embracing the unknown, and allowing my art to grow and shift in response to the ever-changing landscape of life. This journey is about staying open, staying present, and continually discovering new dimensions of expression.
“Ultimately, my work is about uncovering the dualities within us all. Whether through self-portraiture, experimental techniques, or the layering of textures in a collage, I aim to create images that invite the viewer to experience a full range of emotions and see the complexity in what seems like a single moment or gesture” – Leanne Trivett S.
