Cathy Leaycraft was born in New York City. Her mother frequently took her to Galleries and Art Museums as she was growing up and her paternal grandmother was a painter with a home and studio in Woodstock, NY.
Ms. Leaycraft has been photographing for over 35 years. In 1976 she moved to the Baltimore area, where she resides today. She started her study of photography at the University of Delaware and continued at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Leaycraft’s artistic carrier has evolved in phases; the use of her photographs with color Xerox machines, photo collage using Photoshop, reflected glass sphere images, and currently, the use of encaustic with photographs.
About five years ago she began experimenting with this hot wax medium. “Encaustic gives my photographs the texture and depth I have long admired in paintings. In addition, I can manipulate the surface with traditional and non-traditional objects, like brushes, hammers, dental tools etc. I can also scrape out areas revealing more of the photograph underneath.”
Ms. Leaycraft’s work is held in many public and private collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA and the Baltimore Museum of Art. She exhibits widely, and has received grants and awards. For more information visit: www.CathyLeaycaft.com
