Broad Strokes 4 on view at the Leica Gallery Los Angeles from March 5 through April 13, celebrating International Women’s Month with a dynamic gathering of four distinct voices: Mandy Walker, Ruby Bell, Katarina Benzova, and Eva Woolridge. Rather than adhering to a single curatorial thread, the exhibition thrives on contrast—cinematic spectacle alongside intimate portraiture, backstage luminosity beside communal ritual. Together, these artists demonstrate how women continue to redefine visual storytelling across disciplines and generations.
Walker, the first woman president of the American Society of Cinematographers, presents still images gathered during global scouting journeys for major motion pictures. Known for her work on films such as
Elvis and
Hidden Figures, she translates the language of cinema into singular frames. Mountains seen from improbable vantage points, cities alive with movement, and atmospheric horizons reveal how location itself shapes narrative. These photographs are less about production than perception—moments of quiet observation carved from the scale of epic filmmaking.
Bell’s series
Glow turns to the charged spaces behind the scenes of music videos, fashion editorials, and cultural events. Her lens isolates the shimmer of a subject against enveloping shadow, preserving fleeting instants of anticipation and release. Working fluidly between Los Angeles, New York, and Australia, she captures a contemporary image culture where performance and authenticity constantly intersect.
Benzova’s
Presence strips portraiture to its essentials through black and white clarity. Long associated with iconic musicians, she moves beyond spectacle here, seeking stillness over celebrity. Each portrait becomes an encounter, grounded in mutual attention rather than persona.
Woolridge’s
This Is the Sapphic Way pulses with community and defiance. Documenting queer nightlife and intimacy in New York, she frames joy and resistance as inseparable forces. Across the gallery, these varied approaches converge in a shared assertion: photography remains a powerful instrument for claiming space, shaping identity, and honoring lived experience.
Image:
© Mandy Walker