I recently learned about San Francisco artist Leslie Shows, and went to check out some of her work at the Bay Area Now 5 show at YBCA.

The Arrangement of Salts and Metals by Properties / 48”x 72”, collage & acrylic on wood, 2005

Her work is largely inspired by natural landscapes – mountains and lakes, clouds, icebergs. The landscapes often suggest the impact of human exploitation – unnaturally flat rock faces or terraces hinting at quarries, streaks of lurid color in the waters reminiscent of mine tailings. Mixed in with the ink and paint there may be cutouts of gold jewelry or other extracted wealth. Lots of detail, very much worth seeing in person.

Apparently she grew up in Alaska.

Oddly enough the images that got me interested in this local-to-me artist came from London blogger Rodcorp. More of Ms. Shows’s work is showing at Headlands Center for the Arts in Marin, until December 7 2008.