En Pointe by Luisa Freitas

About the Artist:

“Luisa Freitas is a visual artist working in illustration and 2D animation, using both traditional and digital media. Her practice centres on visual storytelling, employing striking imagery to communicate emotionally resonant and socially engaged narratives. Alongside her studio work, Freitas is an active freelance artist who collaborates with creative organisations to develop community-based art projects and events. Through workshops and participatory initiatives delivered in schools, museums, and local communities, her work seeks to broaden access to the arts and foster meaningful engagement across diverse audiences.”

About the exhibition:

“En Pointe is an exhibition by Luisa Freitas presenting a series of oil pencil drawings on A2 coloured paper, and a 2d Animation, that depict ballet dancers’ feet in classical ballet positions. The works reveal the physical reality of ballet practice, drawing attention to what is usually concealed beneath pointe shoes. Bruises, cuts, callouses, and wounds are rendered with honesty, exposing the physical toll and discipline inherent in professional dance. The exhibition explores themes of endurance, resilience, perseverance, and empowerment, highlighting how pain and struggle are transformed into artistic expression. Ballet dancers frequently endure injury and long-term physical strain as an intrinsic part of their practice, yet continue to perform with strength and determination. For this project, Freitas collaborated with ballet dancers from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, interviewing each participant about how their practice has shaped them and the physical and mental challenges they face. By centering each portrait on the dancers’ feet, the exhibition makes visible the unseen labour and personal struggles that underpin their artistic practice.”