Michele Ledoux

Conceptualize, formulate a plan and then, ditch it. Build it up. Tear it down. Take the most complex concept and strip it to plain and simple. And, when you do keep something, make it important. This is the philosophy behind my work. It is an exploration into the organic and raw nature of encaustic, a medium that begs to be layered, heated, carved, scraped and scratched and dictates both an additive and reductive creative process in an effort to expose itself in all of its forms. I create primarily black and white abstract contemporary paintings using an ancient technique most known for its vibrant colors. The work has a heavy sculptural aspect and features uneven surfaces, cuts, cracks, chips and often incorporates recycled material. Influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Arte Povera, the work is also neutral in palette, architectural in style and organic in process and texture. A denial of perfection as we know it; an insistence on spontaneous creative inspiration and non-conformance to exactness. Specifically, the abstracts are smaller encaustic works that invite the viewer to arrange and rearrange, resulting in a custom, one-of-a-kind wall installation, each a unique reflection of the viewer’s own aesthetic.