Black is Never Basic

Title/Artist: 'Black is Never Basic by Leesa Gray-Pitt

Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Year Created: 2025

More Info: https://leesagraypitt.art | @artistleesagraypitt

Size (W)x(H): 16cm x 16cm

Artwork Description: I"This painting confronts stereotypes of beauty and femininity with unapologetic boldness. Featuring glossy black lips emerging from tangled strands of hair, the work speaks to defiance, allure, and mystery. The sensual focus on the mouth and fragmented facial contours evoke themes of identity, power, and self-expression. The use of rich blacks against a warm, flesh-toned backdrop challenges the notion of black as a “basic” colour, asserting instead its elegance and strength. This piece is both a celebration and a reclamation of the dark and the divine.

My art is where emotion, memory, and storytelling collide. I paint and sculpt to make sense of the world—its beauty, its grief, and everything in between. Portraits and figures are at the heart of my work, layered with symbolism, surreal touches, and a good dose of raw honesty. Losing my daughter changed everything, and much of what I create now explores grief, healing, and the messy magic of being human. Lately, I’ve been drawn to the wild—animals, the ocean, and the quiet wisdom of nature. Whether I’m painting a goddess, a whale, or a woman with a halo of butterflies, I’m chasing truth and connection. My work isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence, vulnerability, and finding light in unexpected places.