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.
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.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
MFA in Studio Arts/Printmaking
2008
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
BFA in Printmaking
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
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
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
2023
New Now VI, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019
2019 Instructor Exhibition, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg TN
Making Matters: Fresh Perspectives in Fine Craft, Peters Valley Gallery, Layton NJ
2018
Las Vegas Pop-Up Strip, SGCI Conference, Las Vegas NV
2017
Second State Press Member Exchange, Second State Press, Philadelphia PA
Under Pressure: Steamroller Prints, Frostic School of Arts, Grand Rapids MI
2014-15
GRAM Selects ArtPrize: Encore, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids MI
2014
Frostic SoA’s ArtPrize Exhibition ArtPrize, Grand Rapids MI
Autumnalink: A Selection of Fall Fob Works, Second State Press, Philadelphia PA
Adjunct/Staff at SAU, St. Ambrose University, Davenport IA
2013
Impact 8 Conference, Dundee Scotland
Rocky Mountain Printmaking Alliance Symposium, Salt Lake City UT
2012
Print Resonance – International Art Schools Print Exhbition, Musashino Art University Museum, Tokyo Japan
Taking Bearings, Themed Portfolios Exhibit, SGCI Conference 2012, New Orleans, LA
65th Annual Student Art Competition, juror–Karen Shaw, Ewing Gallery, Knoxville, TN
Out of the Frame, Off the Wall, Gallery 1010, Knoxville, TN
2011
31st Annual National Print Exhibition, juror – Randy Bolton, Artlink, Ft. Wayne, IN
New Prints, Winter 2011, juror – Nicola Lopez (among others), IPCNY, New York, NY
Arts in the Airport, juror – Dorothy Habel, Tyson McGhee Airport, Knoxville, TN
Atlanta Print Biennial International Exhibition, juror – Beth Grabowski, Barbara Archer Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Unicorns! A Print Portfolio, Mani-Pedi, St. Louis, MO
2010
Second-Year Graduate Students, 1010 Gallery, Knoxville, TN
64th Annual Juried Student Art Competition, juror – Brad Kahlhamer, Ewing Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2009
Cc: a UTK Printmaking Exhibition, Fluorescent Gallery, Knoxville, TN
One-Way Ticket, 1010 Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2008
Tune In, Pop Out, pop-up book release, Exquisite Corpse, Kalamazoo, MI
Mayday Mayday Mayday, Exquisite Corpse, Kalamazoo, MI
Annual Juried Student Art Show, Richmond Center for the Visual Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
Finding Pattern/Defining Pattern, Richmond Center for the Visual Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
Student Print Show, Richmond Center for the Visual Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
Work by Collective’s Members, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective, Kalamazoo, MI
2007
4th Annual Kalamazoo Calendar Project, Brakeman Design, Kalamazoo, MI
Dia de Los Muertos, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective, Kalamazoo, MI
The History of When…, One-Two-Four Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI
Flat-Outs, East Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
2006
3rd Annual Kalamazoo Calendar Project, Brakeman Design, Kalamazoo, MI
Dioramas, Puppets, and Mobiles, One-Two-Four Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI
End of the World Inaugural Opening, One-Two-Four Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI
Alternative Monster, East Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, Dalton Center, Kalamazoo, MI
Student Print Show, East Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
2005
2nd Annual Kalamazoo Calendar Project, Brakeman Design, Kalamazoo, MI
Turning the Page, Burning the Page, The Box Factory, St. Joseph, MI
2016
Present Crane Arts and Crane Old School Tenant Gallery
2014
Home–10th Annual Catich Collection Exhibition, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Senior Honors Exhibition, Catich Gallery, Davenport IA
SAU Art Department Adjunct Exhibition, Morrissey Gallery, Davenport, IA
Show, and Tell… SAU Faculty Exhibition, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Vacant Tales, Emma Farber, Morrissey Gallery, Davenport, IA
Bombs and Buffalos, John Hitchcock, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Sawiyano, Bethany Kalk, Morrissey Gallery, Davenport, IA
Recent Works, Laurel Farrin and Jim Shrosbree, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
2013
Dreams to Remember, Grace Sullivan, Morrissey Gallery, Davenport, IA
Art and the Environment, Margaret Whiting, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Works on Paper, Brendan Baylor, Morrissey Gallery, Davenport, IA
The New Heartland, Andrew Borowiec, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Neither Reason Nor Apology, Jenny Harp and Rachel Livedalen, Morrissey Gallery
Aquatic Art, Fr. E. M. Catich, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Small Faces, Buffalo Elementary students, Morrissey Gallery, Davenport, IA
The Deacon’s Seat, Fred Stonehouse, Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
Race Matters? Racism Matters!, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., Catich Gallery, Davenport, IA
2010-2012
Selection of approximately 60 student art exhibits and overseeing all turnovers
2008
Tune In, Pop Out, collaborative pop-up book release, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Welcome Home…, Christopher Darling, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Mayday Mayday Mayday, members, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Thomas Howes, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Art Show, Ryan Nelson, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Exquisite Glass, 3-person exhibition, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Finding Pattern/Defining Pattern,16-person show, DeVries Student Gallery - WMU
Works by the Collective’s Members, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
2007
Dia de los Muertos, 11-person exhibition, Exquisite Corpse Artist Collective
Let Us Free or We Will Stay Forever, Brittany Kusa, One-Two-Four Gallery
History of When…18-person show, One-Two-Four Gallery
A Brief History, Kirsten Field, One-Two-Four Gallery
2006
Lines and Vines, Jenna Caschera, One-Two-Four Gallery
Diorama, Puppet, Mobile Show, members show, One-Two-Four Gallery
Chul-U Yun Exhibition, One-Two-Four Gallery
Journey by Ferry, Derek VanGeison book release, One-Two-Four Gallery
Autotelic, Sarah Boyce, One-Two-Four Gallery
Inaugural Exhibition, members, One-Two-Four Gallery
