Creepy and cute collide inside east valley artist’s Bubblegum Gallery

In order to fully enjoy the works on display inside The Bubblegum Gallery, it’s helpful to let your inner child be the art critic.

Forlorn panda bears, bobble-headed swans, mischievous-looking cupcakes, zombified mermaids — you’ll find them all here, with the whimsical characters making regular appearances inside the world of artist and gallery proprietor LeslieAnn Farrell.

Farrell, an east valley resident and California native, sold her artwork for years at a tent at First Friday but said she always dreamed of having a place to hang her art. She found it inside Downtown Spaces, 1800 S. Industrial Road, officially opening her second-floor gallery in time for April’s First Friday.

“My friend wanted to get this place with me … I kind of bumped her out of it,” Farrell said. “I wanted it to be art and other things — that’s where my girlfriends came into mind.”

Vibing along with Farrell’s self-described “creepy-cute” art aesthetic is friend and fellow artist Jennifer Tam’s StarfishStratagies, which also occupies space in the gallery. Tam said she enjoys repurposing things, such as jars and birdhouses, for her artwork.

Describing her work, Tam said, “Eclectic is the best word … and a little bit creepy.”

“Probably a lot creepy,” Farrell joked. “She’s a little bit dark.”

The two have that darkness — combined with a love of all things glittery and girly — in common. Farrell originally created mainly Halloween-themed art, which led to a client coming up with the name she eventually adopted for her art venture: Bubblegum Nightmare. And hence, The Bubblegum Gallery.

“It was all Halloween stuff, then mermaids and girls — creepy girls,” Farrell said, adding that she decided to drop the “Nightmare” from The Bubblegum Gallery because she wanted it to be an all-inclusive, inviting space.

One of her clients was Pamela Jenkins, owner of The Cupcakery. When it came time to open the location on East Flamingo Road near UNLV, Farrell was invited to cover the cupcake shop’s interior with her artwork.

“I started painting to pay my child support … to stay out of jail,” Farrell said. “I discovered First Friday and said, ‘I need to be a part of this.’ Every month, I would set up 10 pieces.”

Back then, she found her art materials wherever she could, even painting over canvases from Goodwill.

She said she lost custody of her daughter, Kennedy, now 11, due to drugs. But she got clean and turned her life around and regained custody of Kennedy last year. Now she and her husband, Chris Foltz, a local tattoo artist, are expecting a baby.

By day, Farrell works for the nonprofit VIVO Project, a homeless outreach program operated by the WestCare Foundation. And by night, she paints, working on three to five pieces at a time.

“It’s like a little factory,” she said of her painting process.

“Lots of my paintings were me hanging onto things,” she said, explaining why sometimes her characters are dreaming of hearts, and other times, skulls. “It’s just how I was feeling at the time.”

Along with StarfishStratagies, Bubblegum is also showcasing Spiderweb Treats artwork by Theresa Broten, who works with a canvas-layering technique. Then there’s hemp jewelry and tie-dye creations by Jessica Martinez-Susterka of Durty Hippie Hands, and handmade bath products by Audrey Hale of Roux+Bones.

Farrell said Roux+Bones is set to eventually move into its own separate store at Downtown Spaces.

“I’ll also have other artists in here,” Farrell said, adding that a group show themed around mermaids is already planned for June and July and one about unicorns for August.

An additional component to the gallery is paint parties offered by Farrell, which can be held at Bubblegum or in the client’s home. The parties last about two hours, with Farrell supplying the art materials and instruction.

“We’ll meet and come up with the idea (about what to paint) together,” she said, “and they can bring food and drinks, and we play music.”

The parties can accommodate up to 15 at a time and can be themed for both children ($10 each) and adults ($20 each).

“Leslie has a creative mind, and she’s a hard worker,” Tam said. “I think (The Bubblegum Gallery) will be a great experience.”

The Bubblegum Gallery is set to be open on Fridays and Saturdays and by appointment. Visit tinyurl.com/z5w7kxb or call 702-806-0930.