We had the good fortune of connecting with Leia Sands and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leia, Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Leia Sands is a self-taught Bronx, NY based Contemporary Artist & Art Curator, with over 40yrs experience creating art she has been featured in several Art, Women’s, and Culture Magazines, has appeared in National USA & Latin TV Talk Shows like “Botando Chispas” w/ Francis La Chama & Erika Alpire, Local Live TV Talk Shows at Bronxnet Crossover TV w/Kendra Oke. 2 Art & Hip Hop Docu-series with ABC Network & Hawkins Films, Podcasts w/Hip Hop Blvd, The Real Discussion with Rock Logic on Boardwalk Global Media, is a founding board member of Eastern Tennessee Arts Center in Tennessee, her works have showcased in over 100 exhibitions including Art Basel, Art Expo and her artwork is permanent Art Collections in the Bronx NY Mott Haven Library, NOMADS Time Square NYC (Revolving Art Collection for Leia Sands), Greenport Skate Park (Hamptons Area of NY) and 29 Brooklyn, NY School Mural Walls. Ms, Sands is a teaching artist going in to schools worldwide to educate the youth about Art & The Origins of Hip Hop. Her artworks are in homes of private art collectors and celebrities & musicians in the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, and Dubai.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First thing I ask is if you’ve ever visited NYC before & What are your interests? If you have visited NYC before we are skipping the traditional tourist money traps of the Statue of Liberty & Empire State Building etc and we’re going to spend a full day in each of the 5 Boroughs: Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island going to all “THE LOCALS FAVORITE SPOTS” for Art, Live Entertainment, Events w/ Authentic Foods from different cultural neighborhoods & Drinks etc. or whatever unique interests you have. I would also take them to some of my secret spaces & places I’ve found throughout the years exploring NYC that are more calm & relaxing like serene waterfalls in nature in NYC, petting zoos, orchard picking, horseback riding, an off broadway show, taking a beautiful 40 minute $8 round trip boat (serves snacks & drinks) ride to the beach instead of taking the subway train, go watch a Marvel or DC Superhero movie being made in 1 of the NYC neighborhoods, there’s always free events & concerts going on 24 hours a day in this city which is why its called the “City That Never Sleeps”.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout Out to my family, partner in life Artist Cose TDS for all your support on my artistic journey and definitely for my adult kids who help us behind the scenes in our art exhibits & shows. Shout out to my fans, art collectors, curators, galleries, and my New York #artfam who we continue to support one another and help each other build and rise in this concrete jungle. Shout Out to my journalist who is doing this interview and giving me the opportunity to share my passions of Art & Music.

Website: http://www.LeiaAndCose.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Leia_Sands

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Leiasands

Image Credits
Photograph credits: Leia Sands, Koz Silver Tuna Studios, Hideki Aono, and Cose TDS

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