“The soul speaks in images.” — Aristotle
I paint the beauty of everyday life, always searching for the deeper uniqueness within each subject. As a figurative painter, I am especially drawn to the emotion, gesture, and quiet stories found within human presence, while also finding inspiration in animals, still life, interiors, and landscapes. I am continually inspired by the way light falls across form — revealing mood, atmosphere, and story. I want viewers to pause, explore the mystery within the shadows, and discover their own connection to the work.
Working primarily in oils, while also incorporating acrylic and charcoal, my paintings are rooted in a love of light, movement, music, and nature. My Soul Shine series explores the feeling of emotional freedom, joy, spontaneity, and human connection. Through color, light, and mood, I hope to evoke a sense of wonder and the carefree spirit that lives within us.
I currently paint both en plein air and in the studio. Creating art is both a daily practice and a privilege, and my hope is that each painting invites the viewer to slow down, feel something genuine, and reconnect with a sense of wonder.
Atlanta artist Leah Hopkins Henry is a contemporary figurative and portrait painter whose work explores the subtle nuances that make each person and moment unique. Drawing since childhood, she developed a keen sense of observation early in life, shaped in part by growing up as an identical twin. Constantly encouraged to “find the difference,” Leah became deeply attuned to the expressions, gestures, light, and quiet details that reveal individuality and human connection — qualities that continue to define her work today.
Known for her expressive portraits and figurative paintings, Leah also creates award-winning landscapes and still lifes infused with atmosphere, emotion, and luminous light. Her work combines technical realism with a strong sense of mood and storytelling, inviting viewers into worlds that feel both intimate and timeless. Her ongoing Soul Shine series reflects themes of freedom, joy, movement, and emotional connection, inspired by music, nature, and the beauty of everyday life.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Leah also attended the American College of the Applied Arts and has studied with internationally recognized artists Yuqi Wang, Daniel Greene, David Leffel, and Burton Silverman. Her paintings have been exhibited in national and international juried exhibitions, including shows with the Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, American Women Artists, Allied Artists of America, American Artists Professional League, and the Portrait Society of America. Her work is included in collections throughout the United States and has received numerous awards and honors.
In 2005, Leah co-founded the Atlanta Fine Arts League, helping launch Art From the Heart, a nationally recognized initiative in which artists created memorial portraits of Georgia soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan for their surviving families. The project received widespread recognition and was featured in an Emmy Award-winning segment on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s State of the Arts.
Leah currently lives and works in Atlanta, where she continues to paint and teach classes in her studio.
American Women Artists - Signature Member
American Artists Professional League - Signature Member
Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Artists Club - Juried Artist Member
Portrait Society of America
Atlanta Fine Arts League, co-founder
National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society
International Guild of Realism
Oil Painters of America
Allied Artists of America
CV /RESUME
