Two award-winning artists showcase distinct approaches to contemporary art in The Perez Art District—meet them at tomorrow’s art walk
In the latest episode of “The Art of Cathedral City,” CCTV Host Conrad Angel Corral explores the studios of two celebrated artists whose work exemplifies the creative excellence thriving in The Perez Art District: Kippi Leonard and Andrée B. Carter.
Art enthusiasts can meet both artists in person at tomorrow’s monthly art walk, Friday, October 24th, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.
Kippi Leonard: Layers of Desert Inspiration
Working from Studio H-13, Kippi Leonard creates contemporary oil paintings that are poetic, subdued, and richly textured. Her innovative approach involves layering oil paints, cold wax medium, graphite, charcoal, oil stick, and even desert sand she gathers while hiking in the Coachella Valley.
Leonard’s process is unique—she works flat, painting around the surface and adding layers from multiple perspectives. Using potter carving tools and sandpaper, she reveals unearthed moments of color beneath the surface. The result is work with a minimal color palette, expressive line work, unexpected bursts of color, and compelling surface texture.
“Her work is subtle upon first glance,” notes one gallery representative, “but as you study it, the generous depth of layers within her paintings are revealed.”
A self-taught artist who began her practice in 2013 after 20 years in residential design and construction, Leonard has achieved remarkable success. Her accolades include First Place in Painting at the 2022 La Jolla Fine Art Festival, and she was selected as a 2024 recipient of the prestigious Denis Diderot Grant for a residency at Chateau Orquevaux in France.
Leonard’s work is represented by galleries in Seattle, Scottsdale, Greenwich, and Palm Springs, and she has participated in major art fairs including the Seattle Art Fair and Works On Paper Art Fair in New York City. Her solo exhibitions have consistently sold out, demonstrating the strong collector interest in her distinctive approach.
Andrée B. Carter: Abstract Narratives in Mixed Media
At Studio I-17, Andrée B. Carter creates complex abstract works that combine painting, needlepoint, and collage into powerful visual narratives. Born and raised in New Orleans, with an MFA from The University of New Orleans, Carter brings a sophisticated understanding of color, texture, and composition to her practice.
Carter’s signature technique involves creating her own pigments and thread for unique needlepoint elements that she integrates into layered paintings. Her process includes applying hundreds or thousands of marks on each canvas using an irregular grid—a reference to the black and white tile floor of her Italian grandparents’ sugar cane plantation in Louisiana.
“My painting is equally about color, mark making, and improvisation,” Carter explains. “The work is not so much about process as about finding out what results from process.”
Her collage methods incorporate paper, fabric, and handmade needlepoint, with layers of gesso, acrylic, and oil applied over these elements until they become indistinguishable from each other. The result is highly physical work that explores the nuanced relationships between color, texture, and pattern.
Carter’s impressive exhibition history includes solo shows at Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, galleries in New Orleans, Seattle, and Baton Rouge, and numerous juried group exhibitions. She has received multiple awards, including 2nd Place Best in Show at the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster (2019 and 2020), and Juror’s Award from the Artist Council at the Galen in Palm Desert.
Where Art Lives
Both artists maintain working studios in The Perez Art District, where visitors can see them creating in their workspaces, learn about their processes, and purchase art directly. Tomorrow, Friday, October 24th, marks the district’s monthly art walk from 4:00 to 7:00 PM—the perfect opportunity to meet Kippi and Andrée, see their latest work, and explore the studios of over 50 artists.
“The Perez Art District represents some of the finest contemporary art being created in the Coachella Valley,” said Ryan Hunt, Communications & Events Manager for Cathedral City. “Kippi and Andrée exemplify the caliber of talent that makes Cathedral City ‘Where Art Lives.’ We encourage everyone to watch the episode and then visit their studios tomorrow during the art walk.”
Artist Information:
Kippi Leonard Studio
Studio H-13, 68845 Perez Road
Cathedral City, CA 92234
www.kipleeart.com
Instagram: @kippileonard.studio
Andrée B. Carter Fine Art
Studio I-17, 68895 Perez Road
Cathedral City, CA 92234
www.andreecarter.com
Email: abstractabc@gmail.com
The Perez Art District Monthly Art Walk
Tomorrow! Friday, October 24, 2025
4:00-7:00 PM
Meet Kippi Leonard and Andrée B. Carter in their studios
Free and open to the public
ThePerezArtDistrict.com
To watch this episode of “The Art of Cathedral City,” visit the City of Cathedral City’s Facebook page, Instagram account, or YouTube channel. The episode also airs on CCTV (Spectrum Cable Channel 17).
