Rademakers Gallery | Leonie Schneider

Leonie Schneider

Leonie Schneider (*1993, Munich, Germany) is a multidisciplinary artist based in The Hague, Netherlands. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, where she completed her Fine Arts degree in 2018. Schneider’s artistic practice spans painting, sculpture, and textile art. Her work is driven by a deep fascination with human behavior, social dynamics, and narrative storytelling, particularly in the context of family relationships. Since graduating, she has also taken on roles within the Royal Academy’s metal workshop, blending her teaching with her personal creative exploration.

Exploration of Human Behavior and Theater
A recurring theme in Schneider’s work is the observation of human behavior, with a specific focus on interpersonal dynamics within families. During her studies, she discovered the power of theatricality as a tool for exploring these themes, constructing motorized metal sculptures that created a sense of performance, only to be interrupted by the viewer’s presence. This exploration of performance and interruption became a defining aspect of her artistic language.

Painting as a Reflective Practice
Although Schneider initially approached painting as a tool for reflecting on her sculptural work, it has since become central to her practice. Over the past four years, she has developed a continuous series of paintings that depict recurring characters, drawn from her imagination. These characters, often siblings, reflect her interest in power structures and family dynamics. The psychological method of “family constellation” has profoundly influenced Schneider’s narratives, allowing her to explore the complexities of sibling relationships and the absence of parental figures in her work.

Narrative Art and Family Constellation
In her ongoing series, Schneider paints the lives of six fictional siblings, with each work highlighting a different character’s role within the family. Her paintings vividly portray emotions and interactions, often infused with humor, discomfort, and power struggles. The absence of parents in these scenes underscores the siblings’ forced interdependence, navigating the responsibilities of family life on their own. Her work invites viewers to empathize with the characters, offering a nuanced portrait of social behavior.

Metal Sculptures and Textile Collaborations
In addition to painting, Schneider’s passion for welding has resulted in a series of symbolic, animalistic metal sculptures. These powerful, dynamic works stand in contrast to her meticulous, emotionally charged paintings, yet both mediums serve her narrative-driven approach to art. Since 2020, Schneider has expanded her practice by collaborating with the Textile Museum Tilburg, transforming her painted family scenes into large-scale tapestries.

Theatrical Storytelling in Art
Schneider’s work is rooted in storytelling, and her art—whether painted, sculpted, or woven—often features vividly characterized figures engaged in concrete actions. Her colorful depictions of fictional families and domestic scenes reveal her fascination with the theatricality of everyday social interactions. The richness of her narratives, combined with her keen observation of human behavior, positions Schneider as a storyteller of modern life, capturing the emotional complexity of relationships through her distinctive artistic lens.

Education