John Flemming, New Orleans' renowned leather mask maker, concentrates on the art of transformation. His subject is the mask, that ancient form that both disguises and reveals. Flemming creates intricately crafted masks in leather that stand independent as sculptures and, when worn, encompass the wearer in an evocative atmosphere.

Flemming's masks are an outgrowth of 30 years of work in the medium of leather. Observing that nearly everything made with this material either contained, or bound items, he decided to liberate the medium from these preconceptions. Inspired by the life forms in nature, as well as the rapidly changing shapes of elements of wind, water, and fire, not usually associated with the medium of leather, Flemming has created a series of masks, which exhibit a combination of the organic and fantastic. Each mask has a dynamic quality which seems to dance and exude a personality or mood of its own.

Flemming's masks are unique and without parallel in their design, technical virtuosity, and statement. John uses the medium with integrity. The leather is cut and extruded to make the line and statement as clean as possible, never imposing as much as exposing its possibilities. The skin-like texture of the facial features root the mask in the familiar earthly reality, while the rich colors and twisting tendrils suggest a mysterious other worldly presence, perhaps startling, hypnotically beautiful. Their physical lushness, saturated colors, and mythic references all contribute to give the works an emotional focus.

While his pieces are wearable, the extravagance of these leather objects points to their autonomy as works of art, liberated from function.

After spending years traveling extensively throughout Europe, Asia and South America, John now splits his time between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Bali, Indonesia. His works are shown in galleries throughout the U.S., Europe and Australia and are included in many private and public collections.