Barbi Leifert’s New Series’ Debut: Moving Meditations
Palm Desert, CA | January, 2025 — Artist Barbi Leifert will debut her most recent series, entitled Moving Meditations at Soul Dive Yoga located on El Paseo in Palm Desert on February 7th. Leifert, who is known for her exquisite abstract expressionist paintings, will showcase 19 pieces that will remain on exhibit through mid-March. The opening will coincide with the El Paseo Art Walk, which takes place the first Friday of each month from 4-7 pm.
The series of original paintings - Moving Meditations - is created using layers of acrylic paint and mixed media on canvas. Paying homage to an active form of meditation that utilizes conscious movement to calm the mind, create awareness, and connect to the present moment, a concept Alex Sabbag, owner of Soul Dive Yoga, is no stranger to. Using yoga as her own moving meditation, she not only found healing, but also discovered a profound mission to share the transformative power of yoga with the world. Alex built Soul Dive in 2022 for the greater Coachella Valley to find solace in the practice of yoga, just as she did.
“For as long as I can remember, movement and art have always been intertwined,” Leifert reflects. For this dancer turned artist, joy exists in the fluid moments married between music and dance. Her use of shape and color capture the arcs and angles made by a dancer’s movements, the epitome of harmonious beauty. Her lifelong love of dance is behind her newest series, Dancer’s Palette and Moving Meditations.
“When I make a painting, I wait for the balance of color to line and form, trusting the process to always get me there. I paint in layers so that each layer comes through in the final artwork. An unforeseen yet serendipitous process that concludes when moments of beauty emerge as art.”
A Palm Desert resident, Barbi found her movement home at Soul Dive Yoga at a point in her life when technical dancing became too difficult. It seemed natural to turn to yoga flow - a different form of movement, made easier by the flexibility she gained as a dancer. “I love the vibe, the music, the teachers and the owner Alex Sabbag,” says Barbi, “I especially love the fact that yoga offers a mental, physical and emotional cleanse. It’s a practice that thoroughly rinses my body where I feel a sense of peace, purpose and presence with every class.”
“We’re thrilled to showcase Barbi’s work in the studio. When I established Soul Dive over two years ago I knew the space would lend itself beautifully as a gallery,” Alex says. “The studio’s mission is rooted in movement and community, of which this partnership and the pieces on display beautifully exemplify.”
For additional details or assets, to schedule an interview with the artist, or studio owner, author and public speaker, Alex Sabbag, please contact: Ashley Pabst, ashley@souldiveyoga.com, (m) 847.922.0144.
About Barbi Leifert Fine Art: Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Barbi Leifert has always been interested in dance, art and fashion. Her early career was as a dancer in New York City while working in high fashion boutiques selling clothing. She also produced dance and music videos and performed in modern dance venues in downtown NYC and with Frank Hatchett’s dance group at the Broadway Dance Center, NYC. She opened a dance school on Long Island and imparted her love of dance to many who are currently dance professionals. Her experience as a dance feature writer for Gannett Newspapers and for the Woodstock Times and author the Manhattan Dance School directory further trained her eye.
Leifert concurrently was a painter, who sold her first painting at the age of nine to a parent in summer camp. She studied at the Brooklyn Museum and in Artist’s Ateliers on both coasts. Leifert is an Art Expo New York 2016 and 2017 Poster Challenge Finalist. Her paintings are sold to collectors around the world for their residences. Her artwork hangs in office buildings and hotels. Murals have been used by ballet companies for their set designs. Authors have used her art work for their book covers. More on her website at barbileifert.com.
History of Galleries and Exhibitions: Phillips Gallery of Fine Art, Kirkland, WA - Mercer Island Art Gallery, Mercer Island, WA - Axis Gallery- Seattle, WA - Phillips Gallery of Fine Art, San Jose, CA - Art Expo New York - Flower and Hewes, Santa Monica & Malibu, CA - L’Excellence Design Center, Miami, Florida - Wellington Masters, Wellington, Florida - Lanyon 36 Gallery, New York City - Art Vault Unlimited LLC - Museum of Contemporary Art, London - Sansa Gallery, Palo Alto, CA - Gallerie Misto, Belleair Bluffs, FL - Art Basel, Miami - Flower+Hewes, Sonoma, CA - Bemis Arts Center - “Pianos in the Park” Seattle, WA
About Soul Dive Yoga: Whether it’s your first time on a yoga mat or you’re a seasoned yogi, Soul Dive Yoga invites you to move and breathe into the deep. Located in Palm Desert, CA, Soul Dive offers a variety of yoga classes that reflect its teachers’ expertise and teaching styles, challenging both physicality and equanimity. Whether you’re flowing through a Soulful Vinyasa or experiencing a guided sound bath meditation, all of the offerings at Soul Dive Yoga are designed to speak to the mind, body and spirit. About the instructors: Soul Dive Yoga offers a selection of classes that celebrate its teachers’ diverse backgrounds of yoga styles. Our teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and individuality to their classes, providing a safe space for students to go with the flow on their mat. From powerful flows to restorative yin, the schedule is created with intention to bring a balanced offering to the Palm Desert community. About professional training: Soul Dive offers a variety of educational programs for aspiring instructors. Our inhouse mentorship and continuing education programs are designed to support teachers who have recently completed their 200-hour training with developing and growing their voice as yoga industry professionals. Soul Dive Yoga also offers 35- to 50-hour training sessions, designed to take your practice or practitioner skills to the next level. Learn more at www.souldiveyoga.com.
About the owner, Alex Sabbag: Alex Sabbag is a bestselling author, two-time business owner, and entrepreneur. Her most recent venture, Soul Dive Yoga, was founded in 2022 in Palm Desert, California. Seeking solace in the practice, she not only found healing but also discovered a profound mission to share the transformative power of yoga with the world. Her debut memoir, Soul Dive: My Journey into the Deep, is Alex's story of resilient triumph, in and outside the studio, on and off the yoga mat. Through her voice, she hopes to empower and inspire others to embrace life's challenges, surrender to the divine redirects and find greater peace, purpose and presence in their own lives. Learn more at www.soulfulalchemist.com.
Social Media: @alexsabbag