Shelbey Leco​​

Fish’s Secret Wish#

Artist’s Statement#

My subject matter usually includes some elements of nature whether it be a natural landscape, plants, birds, or animals. Recently its focus has shifted into environmental advocacy.

I was born and raised just outside of New Orleans. I come from a lineage of fisherman who lived within fishing communities on islands around southeast Louisiana.

My grandfather wove huge fishing nets for boats with his hands. If you look in the background of my image closely, you’ll see a woman with netting covering her face. This is symbolic of ancestral knowledge, being passed down through generations. Respectively the woman with the cactus as her head represents adaptability, endurance, and protection.

The fish and its ecosystems are being spread thin. It is our responsibility to be regenerative.

No!#

Artist’s Statement#

This piece is an examination of Americans resisting to the drastic changes of our current government. I feel collectively Americans are starting to notice the: detrimental impacts of the environment, how food at the grocery store isn’t safe for consumption, and our government failing us on basic human rights.

The woman in my image is surrounded by flowers forming roots into the earth. She stands tall like a tree, and the roots symbolize a connection to ancestral lineage, but also developing a strong support network within a community. The butterfly covering her face symbolizes the need for transformation and change.

About the Artist#

Growing up in Southeast Louisiana outside of New Orleans, Shelbey was always inspired by nature and art. She graduated from the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies in Urban Society with disciplines in education, english, and anthropology. She enjoys traveling, art, and exploring new places.