Charles Leak draws inspiration from the vastness of the cosmos, exploring the mysteries of space travel, planets, star systems, and galaxies. Guided by Carl Sagan’s words—“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”—his work reflects a vision that extends beyond Earth, into the universe where the deepest secrets and untold stories reside.

Each piece becomes a unique journey through a solar system’s network, capturing moments in time and space: the collision of planets, the explosion of elements forming cosmic clouds and dust, and the ever-evolving forces that shape our world.

To evoke this celestial terrain, Leak incorporates materials such as gold dust flakes, metallic inks, anthracite, and pigments that bridge the earthly and the cosmic. His use of printmaking paper enhances the immediacy and purity of color and gesture, allowing each work to become both an exploration and an experience.