Leah Merriman

I'm an encaustic and mixed media artist based, born and bred in St. Louis, Missouri. I have never lived in another city, but I feel like I have a pretty full life nonetheless.

I can't remember a time that I didn't draw. It wasn't like I "discovered" art, or "tried out" painting one day. This is just what I've always done.

I began apprenticing under local artist and educator, Rudolph Torrini when I was 16 years old and continued working with him into the first year of my undergrad degree.

The plan was to go to art school after high school about a lifetime ago. I did, in fact, get accepted into all the art schools I applied to, including The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Rhode Island School of Design. But then my sister was born; we didn't know she was going to have Downs Syndrome. So I stayed here in St. Louis, and originally attended Fontbonne University in their art program.

My dear mentor's health declined, then my health declined. He had Alzheimer's and I ended up having a neuromuscular movement disorder. I had to relearn to walk, and ended up coming out of the ordeal with a B.A. in Media Communications from Webster University.

I'm totally aware that's not the direction this was headed for - but you've got to think, this was 2008. The economy was crashing and my student loans were about to kick in. If I can't control my nervous system all the time, studio art was not going ...

2019 "Familiar Layers: Encaustic Scenes of St. Louis, Part 1, by Leah Merriman" Solo Show, Third Degree Glass Factory, St. Louis, MO

2018 "In The Details" Group Show, Webster Arts, St. Louis, MO

2013 Venus Envy Show, St. Louis, MO

MySLArt 33May, 2014 Show, St. Louis, MO

2014 Venus Envy Show, St. Louis, MO

Art @Des Peres Hospital, 2015-2016, St. Louis, MO