I have lived in 7 states, 12 cities, and 30 different homes. Ever-shifting environments influences practically everything in my life: artmaking, relationships, new routines, old routines, research, music, food, culture, etc. Some of my belongings have been packed and then unpacked (both literally and metaphorically) nearly every 16 months of my life. Those things I hold onto are the constants in my unintentionally fickle lifestyle... the new surroundings they settle into are the variables. Finding (or creating) familiarity in unfamiliar settings is so routine for me that it's comforting, yet the change is taxing and frightening, and the uncertainty of outcome can sometimes induce more anxiety than I care to foster. My catharsis? Embrace the change, chance, serendipity, entropy; without these constituents, the constants cannot be freed to interact, adapt, and evolve in and with new environments.
Most of my work is informed by patterns and how they relate to a person or place's development and unique character. The definition of "pattern" is extremely broad as they can be found nearly everywhere and appear in many forms – naturally, synthetically, mathematically, biologically, etc. They are found in art, our surroundings, behaviors, daily routines, and rituals. Patterns permeate every aspect of life and I believe it is important to observe and catalogue the roles they play in this world. I am also interested in the relationship between process and product, as well as the potential for multiple variations of print from a single matrix or repeated process. My processes have the potential of being executed in a visually consistent manner, but I tend to welcome disruption during the creation - whether it be intentional or by chance. By exhibiting multiple variations of the same matrix or process together as a suite, the individuality of each print along with the evidence of impossibility of exact replication becomes glaringly present. Inevitable and inherent uniqueness found amongst order is a beautiful thing.
Artist Biography
Leslie was born and raised in Midwest America. She received her Printmaking BFA from Western Michigan University in 2008 and her MFA in Printmaking from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2012. For over 3 years, Leslie was a curator and member of Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective and Gallery in Kalamazoo, MI, which she co-founded in 2005. After moving to Knoxville, she remained active in curatorial practices as the Associate Director and Director of UTK’s Gallery 1010. Following this, she held the position as Gallery Director and Campus Curator at St. Ambrose University in Davenport IA. Leslie has exhibited her work nationally and internationally at such venues as the International Print Center New York in New York City; Grand Rapids Art Museum in Grand Rapids, MI; Barbara Archer Gallery in Atlanta, GA; and Grafiki Warsztatowej in Poznan, Poland, and her prints and books can be found in multiple university and private collections. Her studio is in Lansdowne, PA - just outside Philadelphia.
Education
2012
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
MFA in Studio Arts/Printmaking
2008
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
BFA in Printmaking
Awards & Honors
2014-2015
Fob Holder at Second State Press, Philadelphia PA
2012
Collins, Evans, Massey Scholarship Fund, Penland School of Crafts
Gregor Kalas Purchase Award – 65th Annual Student Art Competition, Knoxville, TN
2011
Artist Residency, Poland Exchange Program
Cash award – 31st Annual National Print Exhibition, Fort Wayne, IN
Terry Burnett Memorial Scholarship
2010
Printmaking Graduate Teaching Associateship
2008
Angie Gayman Carmer Scholarship
Western Michigan University College of Fine Arts Dean’s List
WMU Art Star – Departmental Achievement Award
2007
Western Michigan University Enrichment Grant
Western Michigan University College of Fine Arts Dean’s List
WMU Art Star – Departmental Achievement Award
2006
DeVries Exhibition Award
Western Michigan University College of Fine Arts Dean’s List
Collections
Second State Press, Philadelphia PA
Musashino Art University Museum and Library, Tokyo, Japan
The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, Belgium
Western Michigan University Rare Book Room, Kalamazoo, MI
University of Tennessee Printmaking Department Archives, Knoxville, TN
Ohio University Printmaking Department Archives, Athens, OH
Professional Experience
2023
Workshop Instructor Snow Farm NE Craft Program, Williamsburg MA
2021
Workshop Instructor Peters Valley School of Craft, Layton NJ
2019
Workshop Instructor Peters Valley School of Craft, Layton NJ
Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg TN
Home Studio of Leslie Grossman, Philadelphia PA
2018
Workshop Instructor Peters Valley School of Craft, Layton NJ
Home Studio of Leslie Grossman, Philadelphia PA
2014
Adjunct Instructor St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA
2010 – 2012
Graduate Teaching Associate University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
2006 – 2008
Printmaking Shop Monitor Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
2006/2007
Children’s Summer Program Leader Round House Theater, Washington DC
