Beth Letain

Beth Letain (Edmonton, Canada, 1976) is a former biologist whose painting practice is shaped by an interest in systems and procedures. She works with an intentionally limited vocabulary of minimalist geometric forms referencing circuitry, windows, portals, trees, and mitosis—all points of transfer, duplication, and connection.

While rigorously pursuing these reduced forms, Letain embraces mistakes and uncertainty. She often incorporates the bare surface of the gessoed canvas into the image. The luminous grounds are built up through the laborious application of multiple layers of gesso, which are carefully sanded to produce a rich, velvety surface. This deliberately slow process contrasts with the fast, almost gestural execution of the formal shapes in oil paint.

Recent solo exhibitions include Patrick De Brock Gallery, Knokke (2025 and 2020); Peres Projects, Berlin (2024, 2019 and 2017) and Milan (2023); Leeahn Gallery, Daegu and Seoul (2022); and Pace Gallery, London (2018). Her work has also been presented in group exhibitions including The Yellow Light at 6 PM: Remembering, Envisioning, Sensing Landscape at Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin (2023); Nothing in Particular at Friedrichs Foundation, Weidingen (2021); x_minimal at Cassina Projects, Milan (2021); and An Action Without Image at Kunstverein Reutlingen, Germany (2018), among others.

BETH LETAIN
Crone, 2020
Oil on canvas

BETH LETAIN
Grand Canyon, 2017
Oil on canvas

BETH LETAIN
Riverine, 2022
Oil on canvas

BETH LETAIN
Omphalos (2), 2021
Oil on Canvas
170 x 140 cm

BETH LETAIN
Same Sun, 2022
Oil on Canvas
170 x 140 cm

Installation view, “As Night Follows Day”, Beth Letain. Florit/Florit, Mallorca, 2026

Installation view, “Trees for the Forest“, Beth Letain. LeeAhn Galery, Korea, 2022

Installation view, “Dumbbell”, Beth Letain. Peres Projects, Berlin, 2024