Just when we think that there can’t possibly be a way to reinvent nail art, Leanne Woodley comes along and knocks it out of the park. Based in Brooklyn, Woodley is known for her over-the-top manicures, adhering to the notion that more is more, including gems, sparkles, clashing patterns, and jewelry.
Like most creatives, Woodley draws her inspiration from the world around her (anything from streetwear to the runway). “I love seeing older women who wear a monochromatic look with nails included,” she admitted in an interview with Dazed and Confused Magazine. “Life is inspiring and even more fun when that can be translated to nail art,” she added, pointedly.
But though, admittedly, life is greater than one’s colored nail—Woodley’s nail art adds to the world’s overall vibrancy. With a growing fanbase online, she’s also worked with noteworthy brands and publications like i-D Magazine, L’Officiel USA, and Amika.
“I don’t necessarily know that I’ve ever had a relationship with the word beauty,” says Woodley, “I think it’s something that has just been apart of my thinking. The gauge on what is beautiful is so vast that to me it would be hard to pigeonhole or define it.”
Woodley explains that rather than limiting herself to one definition about beauty, she has an aesthetic vision in which nail art plays a small part. “I only think about beauty in terms of the foundation, meaning how aesthetically beautiful is this manicure, fill in, or new set,” she explains. “How moisturized are the hands in addition to the manicure or extensions. It literally could just be a clear coat and as long as it fits within my standards of how I see my work (because no artist hits a perfection mark each time) I am pleased.”
Scroll down to see some of her recent nail art.
