Joanne Leah was born in Germany and adopted at birth. Her family moved to the American South when she was 4 years old. She grew up in the mountains of Virginia. Her work deals with seduction, ritual and tension.

“When I was a child, I would explore the woods behind my house. I ventured alone, following a small creek. One winter day, I deviated from my usual path. As I walked, I heard a man shout. A pack of barking dogs ran toward me, I immediately dropped to the snowy ground and pretended to be dead. I held my breath. The dogs surrounded me, sniffed and snorted. I had never felt that kind of fear before, the fear of being eaten alive.” Joanne Leah