About Us

 

Arte Amazonia is dedicated to the people and art of the Amazon of South America. Heiko lived nearly 20 years in Venezuela and was a travel guide there for many years. Although, originally from Austria, he always felt most at

home in Venezuela.

 

In 1999, Leah joined one of his expeditions and that was the beginning of their wonderful life adventure together! Leah was raised in NY and studied art history and international relations at Randolph-Macon Woman's College. She worked in the design field for 10 years, including five with Scalamandre Silks.

In 2000, Leah and Heiko married in the Venezuelan, Amazon. They married in their hiking sandals and honeymooned under a double rainbow at the foot of the Autana Tepui. This sacred table top mountain is believed to be the base of the tree of life according to the Piaroa Indians. This union was to be the

 foundation to their shared vision of Arte Amazonia.

Both Heiko and Leah have a deep love and respect for the indigenous people of the Amazon and seek to share that beauty and art with the rest of the world. Leah believes that, "it is through art that we can better know ourselves and others." She sees great beauty in the lives and work of the indigenous people of the Amazon. As she searched for resources and art from this region of the world, she discovered that these are cultures that even our

 experts know so little about.

 

 "They are the heart and soul of the Amazon," Heiko believes and that,

 "we still have the opportunity to know our brothers and sisters, before their way of life and knowledge becomes only a thing of the past...

- as fragments found only in museums."

 

Click here for 5 questions with Leah L. Dittmer

The Autana Tepui

Venezuela, Amazon

If you are a gallery, organization or artist interested in working with us please contact us at info@arte-amazonia.com.

Arte Amazonia is based in Vienna, Austria, where Leah and Heiko are raising their three children. It is a global project intended to give a voice and expand awareness of the Amazon and the beautiful people who live there.