Across the Studio with Leda Tsoutreli

In the 7th episode of Across the Studio, Mia Schoolman sits down with Leda Tsoutreli, a Greek-born painter who lives and works in New York City, where she recently completed her MFA at Pratt Institute. At just 23, Tsoutreli landed a solo show at Palo Gallery one month after graduating—a debut that sold out at the opening.Tsoutreli works in oil, creating expansive abstract compositions that explore the tension between spatial excess and the functional limits of canvas. Her work draws from Baroque, Rococo, and biblical imagery, but filters these references through a deeply personal lens: the scribble, the childlike line, the act of measuring time with paint. The canvases feel like windows into infinite, nutritious spaces where her hand can travel freely.In this conversation: the tiny gap between midnight and morning and where Tsoutreli finds timelessness; the ritual of staring at paintings over breakfast and dancing around the studio; the moment she realized she was imitating herself after her debut show; the way blue travels through her work like a ballpoint pen through drawing.Whether you're an artist, curator, or simply art-adjacent, this episode offers an intimate look into the mind and work of a compelling contemporary artist.Follow Across the StudioInstagram @acrossthestudioTikTok @acrossthestudioFollow Leda TsoutreliInstagram @ledatsoutreliledatsoutreli.com