Leslie Wayne's Artwork Explores Climate Concerns Through Vivid Landscapes
By Editor • August 25, 2026 • 1 min read
Leslie Wayne’s latest exhibition, The Unintended Blues, invites viewers to reflect on the pressing issue of climate change through large-scale paintings that initially resemble photographs. Featuring melting Arctic icebergs and vulnerable U.S. coastlines, the artwork transforms upon closer inspection into a nearly abstract portrayal of these landscapes.
Wayne, known for her previous work This Land Is Your Land, expands her focus to global watery environments in this series. She emphasizes the need for artists to engage audiences on urgent issues creatively. “I hope to achieve that by transporting viewers with paintings that portray the splendor of what we stand to lose by our inaction,” she shares.
Displayed in a dynamic fashion with back-to-back canvases, the exhibition encourages movement around the pieces, echoing the global nature of rising sea levels. The Unintended Blues is on view through September 27 at the Arts Center at Governor's Island, as part of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's 2026 River to River Festival.
Source: www.thisiscolossal.com
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