Equine Elegance
An Exhibition by Leigh Crady & Richard Sullivan
Horses have long embodied a perfect balance of power and grace—moving with both unyielding strength and an effortless rhythm that captivates the human spirit. Equine Elegance brings together the work of two artists, Leigh Crady and Richard Sullivan, who each explore the majesty of the horse through their unique artistic perspectives.
Leigh Crady, an equestrian and lifelong admirer of the horse’s beauty, captures the depth of her subjects with a painter’s sensitivity and a rider’s understanding. Her work reflects not just the physicality of the horse, but its soul—each brushstroke conveying movement, expression, and the intimate connection between horse and human. Drawing from her experience in portraiture and landscape painting, Leigh brings an impressionistic realism to her equine subjects, highlighting their musculature, energy, and the quiet moments of their existence.
Richard Sullivan, a former professional athlete turned artist, approaches equine imagery with an eye for motion, intensity, and the raw emotion of competition. His background in sports fuels his exploration of thoroughbreds as elite athletes, where speed, strength, and instinct converge in moments of exhilarating action. Through his paintings, Richard delves into the psychological and physical resilience of both human and equine competitors, revealing the dynamic tension between precision and spontaneity, power and fragility.
Together, their work offers a dual perspective—one from the heart of an equestrian and the other from the soul of an athlete. Equine Elegance is a celebration of the horse not just as a subject of art, but as a symbol of endurance, grace, and the timeless beauty found in movement.
Exhibit Runs: March 6th – April 20th
Exhibit Dates and Hours:
Thursday, April 24, 2025 6:30pm – 8:00pm Opening Reception
Friday, April 25, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Sunday, April 27 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, April 30 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 1, 2025 4 pm – 7 pm
Friday, May 2, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Sunday, May 4, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 8, 2025 4 pm – 7 pm
Friday, May 9, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 15, 2025 4 pm – 7 pm
Friday, May 16, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Sunday, May 18, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 22, 2025 – 6:30 pm – Artist Talk
Friday, May 23, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Sunday, May 25, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 29, 2025 4 pm – 7 pm
Friday, May 30, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Sunday, June 1, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 11 am – 2 pm
Thursday, June 5, 2025 4 pm – 7 pm Last Day of Exhibition
Place: Mary Anderson Gallery
Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality
101 St. Anthony Dr.
Mount Saint Francis, IN 47146
Meet The Artist
Leigh Crady
“The equine form is an elegant mixture of grace and power but can be a challenge to portray accurately in art. Growing up around horses I have been saturated in the beauty and strength of the horse. I strive to capture the beauty that is the horse with constantly improving my eye as an artist and an equestrian.
I love seeing and expressing the color, light and expressions of my subjects. For horses I try to capture not just their expressions, but posture, attitude and movement.
Balancing my goal for accuracy of seeing is to find and portray shape with subtle color and an economy of stroke.
When seeing my art I hope that the viewer will find fascination with accuracy of form without visually spelling out every detail. My goal is that the suggestion marked out in paint will capture the beauty, power, and artistry that is intrinsic within the equine form.”
Richard Sullivan
Richard Sullivan was born and raised in Louisville, KY, where his childhood experiences on the baseball field and in art class revealed a powerful connection between athleticism and creativity. Captivated by the energy and emotion of sports and the expressive freedom of art, Richard began fusing these passions at an early age. This dual love led him to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where he received a full scholarship to play baseball and study illustration.
By his junior year, Richard was excelling both as a pitcher and an artist. In 2008, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves and spent six years playing in the minor leagues. From 2014 to 2024, Richard transitioned into an award-winning sports artist and illustrator, working with high-profile clients such as the Atlanta Braves, Woodford Reserve, Topps Trading Cards, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, among others. His dynamic sports paintings are featured in stadiums, galleries, and the homes of collectors worldwide.
A spiritual awakening in 2020 led Richard down a profound path of self-discovery, healing, love, and acceptance. His new body of work marks an evolution toward rawness, immediacy, and unfiltered expression. Each painting is a journey into the subconscious shadow, peeling back layers of the unseen. Confrontational and intimate, Richard’s work engages in a dialogue not only with his personal shadow but also with the collective shadow, inviting viewers to confront the raw truths and hidden aspects of themselves.
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