Terry Leness is part of a new generation of painters pushing Photorealism forward. Her highly detailed paintings in this new series focus on an unexpected subject matter: manufactured homes and trailers in the southeastern California desert. By depicting the underprivileged in an area known for its images of excessive privilege, Leness is elevating important voices - she is commenting on the complexities of these domestic spaces as seen through her eyes - the eyes of a female painter - still an underrepresented group in Photorealism.

Leness is giving importance to images that are not of the elevated cannon of high architecture - these are the treasured homes of the other inhabitants of the region. Leness’ depictions of the meticulously cared for homes along with those in different stages of decline and abandonment also illuminate the socio-economic devastation of the Salton Sea. The man-made lake was sold as a vacation mecca but is now a toxic remnant of what it was supposed to be with small communities holding on as best they can. Each house, each camper, each eccentric landscaping scheme has a story to tell about the history of this place. The California Dream that was sold to so many and achieved by very few.

TERRY LENESS received her BA in Art History from Harvard in 1981. Her paintings have been included in exhibitions throughout the United State and in art fairs in San Francisco and Seattle. She was awarded residencies with the Ucross Foundation (2012 - Clearmont, WY) and Centrum (2010 - Port Townsend, WA). Her work has been published in New American Paintings, The Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, The Stranger (cover), International Artist, Studio Visit Magazine, and On Center among others. She lives and works in Teiton, WA.