Circling

AN IDEA

Lesley Luce’s art evokes a visceral sense of unity through meticulously crafted concentric circles, using thousands of paper pieces to explore the history and culture of specific communities.

From a distance, the compositions appear abstract, but up close, intricately decorated fragments reveal familiar icons, offering deeper stories and personal meaning.

Working on circular wood boards, her large-scale works contrast hypnotic rings with fine, recognizable details, creating a nuanced visual experience that resonates on both macro and micro levels.

Luce’s works are available in various sizes and mediums, making them accessible to collectors and art enthusiasts alike.

Lesley Luce

Lesley holds an Honours Fine Arts degree from Queen’s University and postgraduate certificates in Graphic Design (OCAD) and Public Relations (Humber College.) She lives with her young family in the Beaches Neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada.

Circles in Art

Concentric circles have a rich history in art, spanning various cultures and eras, symbolizing unity, eternity, and the cosmos.

For instance, the Aboriginal Australian artwork “Wayampajarti” by Mawukura uses concentric circles to convey traditional stories and important cultural information. In Tibetan Buddhism, the "Kalachakra Mandala" represents the “wheel of time,” guiding meditation and reflection through its intricate geometric patterns. The 9th-century Irish illuminated manuscript, the "Book of Kells," incorporates concentric circles in its Celtic knotwork, symbolizing interconnectedness with God and the continuity of life. In the 20th century, Wassily Kandinsky’s “Color Study, Squares with Concentric Circles” explored the relationship between colour and form, with circles symbolizing renewal and progression. Similarly, in Canada, Claude Tousignant, a key figure in geometric abstraction, utilized alternating values of complementary colours in his concentric circle paintings, such as “Évanescence chromatique,” to convey dynamic movement and visual rhythm.

According to Manuel Lima's "The Book of Circles," these circular forms are powerful visual tools that resonate deeply with human perception and emotion, tapping into an innate sense of harmony and balance across all continents and cultures.

In Lesley’s works, the concentric circle's ability to draw the viewer's eye inward creates a contemplative experience akin to the feeling of being part of a community or neighbourhood. This sense of comfort and “home” is further expressed, with each layer representing different aspects of personal and communal identity, ultimately converging at a shared center of belonging.

Bio
Lesley Luce is a Toronto-based artist whose work explores themes of community, culture, and connection through meticulously crafted concentric circles. Using thousands of paper pieces, her large-scale works evoke a visceral sense of unity, blending abstract composition with detailed storytelling.

Each piece begins with digital studies, where I design and scale the icons, playing with colour, rhythm, and composition. These digital explorations evolve into handmade prototypes, where I print, cut, and place each piece, refining the design further in paper. The final, large-scale handmade works range from 31 to 36 inches in diameter—intentionally sized to embrace the viewer without overwhelming them. A final handmade artwork can have between 7,000 and 9,000 pieces of paper.
Lesley selects subject matter that captivates her curiosity and imagination—often choosing themes she wishes to explore in greater depth. Through the design process, she deepens her understanding of the history and culture of each subject, mirroring the viewer’s own experience of discovering the details in her work. Her pieces are often inspired by primary or historical artifacts, which she integrates as source material. Past works have explored The Beaches Community and Canadian Music. Upcoming works will focus on Algonquin Park and the Group of Seven, women in Canadian music, and Toronto graffiti artists.
Each work comes with a separate legend explaining the source imagery of each icon used in the concentric rings. It is printed on ¼” thick rigid white acrylic that the viewer can keep and refer to.
Concentric circles have always captivated me because of their ability to draw the viewer’s eye inward, creating a contemplative experience. They represent the idea of community and home, with each layer reflecting different aspects of personal and communal identity, converging at a shared center of belonging.
It’s created on a wood panel, canvas, and incorporates acrylic paint and images and designs printed with
ChromaLife100+ ink on archival paper. The concentric circles you see are made up of intricately decorated fragments of cut, printed and painted pieces of paper.
The shapes I use, especially the concentric circles, are chosen for their symbolic value and visual impact. Concentric circles naturally guide the viewer's gaze towards the center, creating a focal point that encourages closer inspection. For the other elements within the circles, like the fragments of paper, I select shapes that can be intricately detailed and fit together harmoniously. These shapes often incorporate archival images, icons and landmarks, adding layers of meaning to the piece.
I choose colours based on both their aesthetic appeal and their ability to convey the essence of the subject I'm depicting. For example, in pieces focused on specific neighbourhoods, I use colours that evoke the local environment or cultural vibe. I also consider complementary colours to create visual harmony and to enhance the vibrancy of the piece. The goal is to draw viewers in from a distance while offering a rich, detailed experience up close.