Sector Seven Contemporary Art Gallery is pleased to announce the debut artist reception for Anna Léger-Hawks, celebrating her first-ever solo exhibition, Let Go and Then Let Go Again. The event will take place on Friday, June 26th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at The Crush Pad in Pasadena (693 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105). Highlighting her intuitive practice as a form of active meditation, the evening invites guests to experience the collection, meet Léger-Hawks in person, and enjoy an exclusive live jazz performance by the Dylan Quintet.
Preview Anna Léger-Hawks' available works by tapping here.
For archival purposes, please note that the biographical narrative below was developed through an interview conducted via email correspondence on June 6, 2026. Esteban Lopez was located in South Pasadena, California, while Anna Léger-Hawks participated from her private residence and studio in the same city.
The Role of Art: Pulling Feelings to the Surface
Anna Léger-Hawks is a Pasadena, California-based contemporary artist whose innovative mixed-media practice serves as an evocative exploration of nature, imagination, and human emotion. With a formal background in fine arts, her work bridges abstract techniques with deeply personal narratives. Yet, the journey to sharing these intimate creations with the public was not an immediate one.
Reflecting on her early artistic development, Léger-Hawks admits an initial hesitation to step into the public sphere. "I did not like people looking at my artwork. It made me feel very uncomfortable, especially when they told me what they saw," she recalls. The pivotal shift occurred during her formal studies. "When the instructor explained that art is meant to pull emotions out of people, and evoke feelings, it helped me understand the importance of showing my artwork." Today, she credits her education with expanding her mastery of different mediums, while her profound career path continues to drive the emotional and playful aspects of her canvases.
Clearing the Mind: The Practice of Intuitive Painting
In the studio, Léger-Hawks’s process is entirely unscripted. Working purely from intuition rather than rigid concepts, she embraces a highly spontaneous approach. Rather than meticulously planning her canvases, she begins with a spark of inspiration and allows the artwork to organically reveal itself. Grounded in elements of the "spiritual, meditation, [and] the ability to clear the mind," she views her practice as a form of active meditation.
Thematically, the artist finds herself continually returning to one grounding force: "Nature, nature, nature, and emotions." She draws heavily from the enduring strength of the natural world, exploring how it quietly centers us within a fast-paced modern society. Her recent floral series vividly reflects this philosophy. Deliberately embracing bright colors and a playful, child-like simplicity, she focuses on flow and balance, hoping her recent works evoke feelings of "joy, playfulness, [and] relaxation."
However, Léger-Hawks is careful not to dictate the narrative. Her vibrant works serve as gentle, visual reminders to slow down and find joy in the present moment, but the ultimate interpretation is left entirely to the observer. Emphasizing this philosophy, she states:
"Everything, my hope is that the viewer has their own personal experience. There is never a specific emotion, story, or question that I am trying to reveal."
Art as Healing: A Journey of Recovery
For Léger-Hawks, the act of creating is fundamentally tied to healing. Celebrating over fifteen years of personal sobriety, she has utilized art as a vital coping mechanism throughout her life. This intimate relationship with creative expression deeply informs her professional work in the recovery community, where she has served for over a decade. Currently working as a therapeutic art teacher at a women’s substance abuse recovery home in Pasadena, she guides her students in translating complex emotions into visual form—a profound and rewarding practice she describes as "visual journaling."
In honor of the community where she serves as a therapeutic art teacher, Léger-Hawks is proud to donate 10% of all sales from this exhibition to Casa Treatment Center for Women. Established in 1967 as Pasadena’s first 24-hour substance abuse recovery program designed specifically for women, Casa provides a compassionate, non-judgmental environment focused on holistic healing and self-exploration. By acquiring a piece from this collection, collectors directly support Casa’s vital mission to help women of all backgrounds regain the confidence and skills needed to lead healthy, productive, and meaningful lives. Guests are also invited to make a direct contribution to Casa by scanning the QR code below or tapping here.
Explore the Collection
We cordially invite you to explore the complete collection for Let Go and Then Let Go Again. All original works are currently available for acquisition. To view the artwork and support the vital mission of Casa Treatment Center for Women, please tap here to explore the digital catalog.
About Our Cultural Partners
Sector Seven Contemporary Art Gallery (S7CAG) operates a decentralized curatorial model, partnering with select architectural and cultural environments to present rotating, site-specific installations of original contemporary artwork.
Through these curated satellite locations, the gallery deliberately expands access to contemporary art beyond traditional, insular walls—placing art where human consciousness and daily life actually intersect. This model integrates exceptional artwork directly into vibrant public ecosystems while maintaining a rigorous, high-touch viewing and acquisition experience.
Each partner site serves as an active extension of the S7CAG curatorial program, showcasing a distinct roster of emerging and established artists. All works on view are available for acquisition and are removed upon placement. To support our local and global network of collectors, S7CAG provides private consultations, local logistics, international shipping, and placement advisory services upon request.
For more information, visit our Cultural Partners by tapping here.
