By Claire Kohl
“Grasp” by Jennifer Leatherby projected on the east façade of 2925 Ingersoll Avenue.
The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand installed “Grasp” by Des Moines artist Jennifer Leatherby as the second featured art piece of our 2026 Ingersoll Projector Showcase. The piece became live on February 19 and will run through March 18. The artwork projected onto the east façade of 2925 Ingersoll Avenue is romantic, relaxing, and, like all things… temporary.
The Circle of Life
Jennifer used sunlight, her hands, and a flowering tree to connect the fleeting nature of human life, plants, and shadows in the one-minute, forty-two-second video, which will play on a loop after sundown. Capturing the images required paying special attention to the environment.
Jennifer said, “When you are working with light and shadows, you only have a certain amount of time if it is natural because the light is always changing… I think that is true for our relationship with ourselves, and nature, and each other; things are always changing, and everything is temporary.”
Attuned to the Seasons
Jennifer Leatherby’s living room features many plants, her artwork, and her dog, Steve.
When The Avenues interviewed the artist at her home, we were impressed by her thriving plant collection and met her beloved dog, Steve. Jennifer enjoys learning about composting and plant types, as well as hiking. Her experiences in nature inspire her work. “If you go in the forest and hike four times a year, throughout the year, you can walk the same trail, and it will be a completely different place,” she said. ”Especially in Iowa, where we have seasons and things change. I love that. That is a lesson for life.”
While Jennifer loves all plants, she is particularly fond of flowers, which prompted her to feature imagery of a flowering tree in this artwork. “You know, eventually, the flowers are going to fall,” she said. “I draw, paint, and tattoo flowers. I think they are so gorgeous and, again, they are so temporary.”
Connecting in the Present
In her work as a hospice volunteer and death doula, Jennifer is regularly confronted with human mortality. She feels that the temporary nature of life is bittersweet and highlights the importance of connecting with others in the present.
Des Moines artist Jennifer Leatherby.
“I’m always thinking about the temporary nature of things and the temporary nature of life for each of us,” she said. Jennifer titled the artwork “Grasp” in reference to holding hands. Jennifer says she sees hands as the main way that humans connect with each other, with nature, and with animals.“When you hold someone’s hand and have that moment of physical touch, you feel connected,” she said.”But someday, you’re going to let go. I think [“Grasp”] is about being in the moment, like when you reach out to hold something, you’re making an intentional move.”
LEARN MORE: Ingersoll Projector Showcase artists & schedule
- Special thanks to Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design, 2921 Ingersoll, for sponsoring the honorarium for selected artists.
- Read our interview with the first featured artist of our 2026 Ingersoll Projector Showcase here.
Artist Contact Information:
Jennifer Leatherby: Instagram Link & Portfolio Link
