Rosa Leff

About the Artist

Between painting alongside her grandmother and watching her father build reproduction antique furniture, Rosa Leff grew up seeing no distinction between fine art and craft.  What mattered was that things were made by hand and done well.  It is with that in mind that she creates her hand-cut paper pieces.  Each of Leff’s papercuts is cut by hand from a single sheet of paper using a knife.  Her cityscapes are based on photos she’s taken in her neighborhood and all over the world.  While Leff is best known for her ability to capture thin tangles of powerlines and intricate brickwork, she also enjoys experimenting with novel media such as paper plates and paper towels.  Leff delights in bringing a modern, urban perspective to a traditional folk medium.  Leff serves on the board of The Guild of American Papercutters.  She has exhibited her work throughout the East Coast and in China.  She resides in Baltimore with her husband and chihuahuas, Chalupa, and Refrito.

Artist's Statement

Each of my papercut cityscapes is based on an original photograph and cut by hand using a knife with Excel blades.