I am a multidisciplinary visual artist exploring alternative material, and relationships with our more-than-human companions with whom we share this earth. My practice explores the use of provisional materials, and transformation. Through dreams, fantasy, practicality, escapism, and speculation, I work towards imagining possibilities of the present and future. This actualizes through painting, and creating situations of engagement. Forming relationships with non-human life has always grounded me. By interrupting constructs based in speciesism and separation, my practice works to envision a future of life interconnected against environmental catastrophe.

Whitney Johnson-Lessard is a Peoria, Illinois based visual artist. She received a BFA in Painting from Illinois State University, and an MFA in Art Theory and Practice from Northwestern University. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at the Block Museum of Art (IL), Coco Hunday (FL), Figure One Gallery (IL), the McLean County Art Center (IL), and ICON Gallery (IA). She has been awarded a number of grants, including support from the Arts Partners of Central Illinois (2024), and the Illinois Arts Council (2024). Recently, she has participated in a residency program with Project 1612, and exhibited with the artist-run curatorial project Lease Agreement. This summer she is a resident at Alderworks Artists and Writers Retreat (AK). She is a professor and teaches at Bradley University and Illinois Central College.

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