Leila Rose Fanner is a painter and illustrator. Born to a South African artist and an African American musician, she was raised in South Africa and currently works from her studio in a small village in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. After graduating from The JHB National School of the Arts Johannesburg, Leila trained in graphic design and watercolor painting, holding her first exhibition in 1993 at the age of 23. 

 

In her work, Leila is “depicting the gentle, natural feminine presence, the spirit of Mother Nature or the essence and potential of the Soul” as she states it. Leila’s subject matter explores the symbolic language of dreams and the subconscious landscape of emotions from a very personal, distinctly feminine perspective. Through her art, she unfolds a story about the soul’s journey within the material world, often referencing African flora and fauna, fabric patterns and folklore.