About
Leah Fusco is an artist and researcher. Her work draws on geographic and historic subject matter in place research, exploring the use of mapping, narrative and imaging technologies. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2010 (MA Communication Art and Design), Leah has worked across publishing, research, exhibition and public engagement, collaborating with a range of partners in the cultural sector. Her doctoral research, supported by the London Doctoral Design Centre (AHRC), tests conceptual frameworks in illustrative documentary and imaging methods employed in the visual representation of place, from traditional drawing tools to remote sensing software. Leah has contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across illustration, animation, drawing, visual communication and landscape architecture. Institutions include University for the Creative Arts, Norwich University of the Arts, Kingston University and the Royal College of Art. She is currently external examiner for MA Illustration: Authorial Practice at Falmouth University and a lecturer on MA Illustration at University of the Arts London.leah.fusco@network.rca.ac.uk
Commissions / Collaborations
Ambit, Bloomsbury, Built Environment Trust, Gestalt, Granta Books, Kingston Museum, Nomada Ediciones, Penned in the Margins, Stanley Picker Gallery, Towner Gallery, Turner Contemporary, The Island Review, Varoom!, V&A MuseumExhibitions
Northeye, Bexhill Museum, 2020Another Land, Kingston Museum, 2019 Between the Visible and the Invisible, Maraya Art Centre, 2018 Gesture, Trace and Performance, Herbert Read Gallery, 2017 Strange Pilgrimage, The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, 2017 Blue, Falmouth University, Falmouth, 2016 Hidden in Plain Sight, Norwich University of the Arts, 2015 DRAW - Turning Thoughts into Lines, Royal College of Art, 2010 Textgallery - The Art of Lost Words, German Gymnasium, 2008
Awards
University of the Arts London, Research grant 2021London Doctoral Design Centre, AHRC 2015 – 2020
University for the Creative Arts, Research grant 2016
Southwood Award 2014
Sheila Robinson Drawing Prize 2010
Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers, Grant 2008
Research / Published work
Remote SensingUniversity of the Arts London, 2021Co-organiser for symposium and publication documenting impacts on fieldwork during the pandemic.
‘Re-‘: Methods of Illustrative Practice in Heritage
AHCS Futures, University College London, 2020
Collaborative presentation examining hybrid illustration-heritage research methods.
Creative Visual Enquiries Through Riverscapes
Iterations Design Research, 2019 Collaborative journal article exploring walking-drawing as a methodology in design research.
Another Land
Kingston Museum and Stanley Picker Gallery, 2019 Curator and producer for a three month exhibition and programme exploring visualisations of place.
Drawing Waters
Design Research Society, University of Limerick, 2018 Workshop co-leader running a walking-drawing event for design practitioners.
Marsh Women
Feminisms and Materialisms Symposium, Royal College of Art, 2018 Presentation exploring creative roles of women in wetland environments.
Gone To Earth
Theoretical Archaeological Group, Southampton University, 2016 Session and panel leader exploring visual practice in landscape research.
Tracing Lines
Illustration Research Symposium, Edinburgh College of Art, 2016 Performative animation exploring past, present and future narratives of a deserted medieval village.
Secret Histories, Hidden Landscape
Built Environment Trust Journal, 2016Visual essay exploring creative fieldwork methods.
Under Water
Varoom! Journal, 2016
Interview and showcase of practice.
Northeye
Cultural Heritage in Landscape, Baltic & Newcastle University, 2016 Poster presentation exploring interdisciplinary approaches in cultural heritage.