Leah Murray asks what it means to consecutively or concurrently belong to multiple communities across two continents and six countries as participant and observer, insider and outsider, in a time when our shared environment cries out for attention, imagination, protection, and care.
Artist Statement — Niche: Outsider
I am honoured to be able to work and live on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, particularly the Semiahmoo, Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Sto:lo, and Quw’utsun.
Niche: Outsider is part of my ongoing exploration of the intricate relationships between humans, narrative, and the personally experienced landscapes and milieus that shape us. My practice is rooted in a deep reverence for the living world — an awareness that the most enduring legacy we leave behind is the evolving earth itself. Through this work, I document and respond to the greater art and communities that I live within.
Drawing on a background in writing, photography, music, and videography, I create immersive, layered pieces that weave together image, sound, and text. This approach reflects what I call my “Celtic eye”: a lens that seeks out the mystical, mythological, pragmatic, and spiritual connections between people, communities, and the natural world.
Influenced by the photographic vision of Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier, Jerry Uelsmann, and Franz Lanting, and inspired by literary and cinematic voices from Margaret Atwood to James Cameron, my work pursues both technical precision and imaginative breadth. Niche: Outsider collages photography, videography, AI-generated animations, original narrative text, and both captured and created sound to invite viewers into a contemplative space — one where both memory and community meet the varied landscapes we inhabit.
At its heart, this piece asks what it means to consecutively or concurrently belong to multiple communities across two continents and six countries as participant and observer, insider and outsider, in a time when our shared environment cries out for attention, imagination, protection, and care.
– Leah Murray, September 6, 2025
Created during grunt gallery’s 2025 Mount Pleasant Community Art Screen Digital Storytelling workshops. grunt gallery was founded in 1984 in Vancouver, BC with the vision to become an internationally renowned artist-run centre and further the practice of contemporary art. Through the exploration of our diverse Canadian cultural identity, we are able to offer public programming in the form of exhibitions, performances, artist talks, publications, and other special projects in the community. Our mandate is to inspire public dialogue by creating an environment conducive to the emergence of innovative, collaborative, and provocative contemporary art.
Leah, what a poetic and beautiful piece! I am still digesting it, and will for awhile.
Blessings, Karen
Oh, Karen, thank you so much! It was a bit of a labour of love and a trip down memory lane all rolled into one – my family was very mobile, but the bonds remain close to this day!
I am speechless … and full of wonder!