Leon Xu is painter and fine artist from San Francisco, California. His paintings are something from a dream or the first few blinks after waking up. Misty, faded, and bright with color. They typically feature light refractions, muddled reflections, and shadows. Although his current body of work is centered around more specific subjects.
He draws inspiration from what he calls “brain tingles.” This term refers to moments of ASMR, short for autonomous sensory meridian response. It is a feeling caused by certain auditory or sensory stimuli felt in the head and down the spine. These moments produce a sense of deep relaxation. Leon’s process includes reflecting on those moments, capturing them in a photo and painting the best expression of what he was feeling.
We talked about how his art begins with actively observing his surroundings. Our discussion landed on how observing is a practice that takes refining. It is a muscle you must grow and a study you need to be dedicated to. Leon says that graffiti was his introduction to being actively observant. The way graffiti enhances surrounds to be dense with art and information pertaining to the culture. As his observations became more developed they transitioned into what he paints today. If you look at his body of work you see this reflected in what he chooses to paint.
His newest series of work is centered around his car which he is deeply connect to. Leon was inspired to buy a Toyota Celica from Initial D, a manga series based around street racing and car culture in Japan. Initial D provides Leon with inspiration and subject matter to this day. Leon spent a lot of time in his car during the pandemic. It became an outlet and a sanctuary for him. Driving was one of a very select few opportunities to gain inspiration and observe his surroundings when New York shut down. His observation process shifted to center around “brain tingles” observed from the sanctuary of his car. Thus leading to the body of work photographed in this series.
We met working at 18 East in downtown Manhattan. A shop that we spend time shooting the shit, talking art, and graffiti. See you at work! Thank you for having me at the studio.