James Leonard is one of California’s leading abstract expressionist painters. Working with an extended palette knife and acrylics on canvas, he creates bold horizontal and vertical strokes in strong colors in order to trigger the viewer’s emotions. This basic movement is complicated by the inventive layering of dropped, speckled and fragmented colors that create a sense of additional depth.

Leonard says, "I’m pulling paint, layering one layer at a time, which creates a sense of history in the painting. It’s like looking at a fence post that’s been repainted over a period of time. You can see the different colors and layers.

Leonard’s paintings have ambient landscape qualities and can have thirty or forty layers in one painting. His final touch employs a technique he calls sgrafito – scraping lines through the upper layers, so the colors of the ground layers show through. The German painter Gerhard Richer has influenced his style, approach, and directness.

James Leonard’s paintings have been exhibited internationally. His works also reside in private and corporate art collections across the United States and Europe.

MUSEUM AND JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2018 ART BASEL RED DOT ART FAIR, MIAMI, FLORIDA

2018 ART MARKET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
2017 ART MARKET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
2013 INTERNATIONAL ART SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO, CA.
2012 ART BASEL MIAMI, MIAMI, FLORIDA
2012 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION BOLD EXPRESSIONS CARMICHAEL CA.
2010 ANDREWS ART MUSEUM, EXHIBITION, ANDREWS, NC
2005 ALAMEDA ART CENTER “CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACTS” JUROR: KENNETH BAKER, ART CRITIC, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
2004 SAN DIEGO ART INSTITUTE, MUSEUM OF THE LIVING ARTIST 47TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, SAN DIEGO, CA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
2004 ALBANY MUSEUM, INSTITUTE OF HISTORY & ART, ALBANY, NY
2002 BELLEVUE ART MUSEUM, EXHIBITOR, BELLEVUE, WA
2001 PALM SPRINGS DESERT MUSEUM, 32ND ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION, ARTISTS COUNCIL AWARD
2001 BELLEVUE ART MUSEUM, EXHIBITOR BELLEVUE, WA
2000 SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART: ALL CALIFORNIA JURIED EXHIBITION, SILVER AWARD
1999 AWARD FROM THE ARTIST’S MAGAZINE, BEST EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY AWARD

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018 AVRAN ART GALLERY, LAGUNA BEACH, CA.
2017 DOUGLAS FLANDERS, MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
2016 AVRAN ART GALLERY, LAGUNA BEACH, CA.
2015 DOUGLAS FLANDERS, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
2014 AVRAN ART, LAGUNA BEACH, CA.
2013 CHLOE ART GALLERY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
2012 AVRAN ART GALLERY, LAGUNA BEACH, CA
2011 THORNWOOD ART GALLERY, HOUSTON, TX.
2010 DOUGLAS FLANDERS ART, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
2010 GALLERY BERGELLI, LARKSPUR, CA
2010 RUE 32 GALLERY, DENVER, CO
2009 DOUGLAS FLANDERS ART, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
2009 GALLERY BERGELLI, LARKSPUR, CA
2009 GALLERY MENSING, BERLIN, GERMANY
2008 DOUGLAS FLANDERS SOUTHEBYS MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
2008 NUSSBAUMER FINE ART, SANTA FE, NM
2008 GALLERY BERGELLI, LARKSPUR, CA
2007 SOREN CHRISTENSON, NEW ORLEANS, LA
2006 MELANIE COOPER, CHICAGO, ILL
2006 GALLERY BERGELLI, LARKSPUR, CA
2006 MARION MEYERS, LAGUNA BEACH, CA
2005 JOSEPH GIEREK, TULSA, OK
2005 MARION MEYERS, LAGUNA BEACH, CA
2004 GALLERY BLUE, KANSAS CITY, MI
2003 ART WORKS, VANCOUVER, BC
2003 MELANIE COOPER, CHICAGO, ILL
2002 R.DUANE REED GALLERY, ST.LOUIS, MO
2002 GALLERY BERGELLI, LARKSPUR, CA
2002 MARION MEYERS, LAGUNA BEACH, CA
2001 GALLERY BERGELLI, LARKSPUR, C
2000 FREDRICK CLEMENT, MONTCLARE, NJ
1999 BLUE MOUNTAIN GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY
1997 CHARLES HESPE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
1997 LISA STEINMETZ GALLER, ST. LOUIS, MO
1996 CARTHEW THOMPSON, BEVERLY HILLS
1996 LYA ART GALLERY SANTA FE, NM
1996 DELPHINE GALLERY, SANTA BARBARA, CA
1995 CHARLES HESPE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
1995 LYA GALLERY, SANTA FE, NM
1995 DELPHINE GALLERY, SANTA BARBARA, CA
1994 DELPHINE GALLERY, SANTA BARBARA, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015 DOUGLAS FLANDERS, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
2014 AVRAN ART, LAGUNA BEACH, CA.
2012 NEW ACQUISITONS, FLANDERS MINNEAPOLIS, MN
2011 HENNES ART CO, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
2011 JOSEPH GIEREK, TULSA, OK.
2010 SOREN CHRISTENSON NEW ORLEANS, LA
2009 EDGE GALLERY, PHILADELPHIA, PA
2009 LAKES’ SOTHEBYS, EDINA, MN
2008 ART WORKS, VANCOUVER, BC
2007 MENSING GALLERY, FRANKFURT, GERMANY
2006 ART WORKS, VANCOUVER, BC
2005 MELANIE COOPER, CHICAGO, ILL
2004 BENNETT ST. GALLERY, ATLANTA, GA
2003 IN GOOD COMPANY, BOSTON, MA
2002 MALTON GALLERY, CINCINNATI, OH
2001 PONCHO INVITATIONAL FINE ART, SEATTLE, WA
2001 SCULPTURE SHOWCASE, NEW HOPE, PA
2000 BERGELLI GALLERY, LARKSPUR, CA
1999 WORLD VIEW, ETHNIC DIVERSITY & NEW HORIZONS FOR THE
MILLENNIUM, DANVILLE, CA
1997 ART JONCTION, NICE, FRANCE
1996 MACROMEDIA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

COLLECTIONS

APPLE CORP, JEFF WILLIAMS C.O.O.
3I CORPORATION, WALTHAM, MA
ABRY PARTNERS, BOSTON, MA
ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT INC., BOSTON, MA
ADOBE SYSTEMS, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
ALUMAX CORP. HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GA
ANDREW SPANGLER, SPANGLER LAW P.C. LONGVIEW, TEXAS
ANDREW & ANN H. TISCH, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
APPIA DEVELOPMENTS, VANCOUVER, CANADA
ARTHUR ANDERSON, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
ASCENT ART VENTURES LLC., DALLAS, TX
AXIS, HAMILTON, BERMUDA
BIOGEN INC., CAMBRIDGE, MA
BOSTON STOCK EXCHANGE, BOSTON, MA
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC, BOSTON, MA
BROOKFIELD POWER, MARLBOROUGH MA
BROOKSTONE INC., AMHERST, NH
BURNS & LEVINSON, BOSTON, MA
CARTER & COMPANY BOSTON, MA
CB RICHARD ELLIS, WALNUT CREEK, CA
CENTRE SOLUTIONS, BERMUDA
CETRULO & CAPONE, BOSTON, MA
CHURCH PARK LUXURY APTS, BOSTON, MA.
COLOR KENITICS, BOSTON, MA
COLLEGE PARK MUSIC DEPT, PLEASANT HILL, CA.
COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL
CORNNUTS TOASTED CORN, OAKLAND, CA
CONSULATE GENERAL OF LUXEMBOURG
DDJ CAPITOL, BOSTON, MA
DECORATE YOUR WALLS, SEATTLE, WA.
DELIOTTE CONSULTING BOSTON, MA
DRISCOLL AGENCY, BOSTON, MA
DWYER & COLLORA, BOSTON, MA
EDINBORO UNIVERSITY, ENINBORO, PA
EDWARDS & ANGELL, BOSTON, MA
ELLEN O. TAUSHER, CONGRESSWOMAN, 10TH DISTRICT
EPSTEIN BECKER & GREENBOSTON, MA
FACTORY MOTOR PARTS, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
FAIRMONTWATERFRONT HOTEL,VANCOUVER CANADA
FENWAY VENTURES LLC., BOSTON, MA
FILMTWIST.COM SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
FLORIDA CREDIT UNION, TALLAHASSEE, FL
FM GLOBAL, WALTHAM, MA.
FM GLOBAL, NORWOOD, MA.
FSP PHOENIX TOWER LTD., HOUSTON, TX
GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR, BOSTON, MA
GROOM LAW GROUP, WASHINGTON, D.C.
HADCO, CANTON, MA
HALE & DORR LAW OFFICES, BOSTON, MA
HARVARD VANGARD MEDICAL ASS. BOSTON, MA.
HYATT REGENCY, VANCOUVER, CANADA
HINKIE & FORAN, TALLAHASSEE, FL
HOFFMAN COMPANIES, BOSTON, MA.
INN AT THE OPERA PLAZA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
INOTEK PHARMACEUTICALS, LEXINGTON, MA.
INTERFACE CONSULTING INT., HOUSTON, TX
INTEGRATED FINANCIAL PARTNERS BOSTON, MA.
IOI INC. BOSTON, MA.
ISSACSON MILLER, WASHINGTON, D.C.
JACK MORTON WORLDWIDE, BOSTON, MA
JOULE UNLIMITED INC. BEDFORD, MA.
KAISER PERMANTE HOSPITAL, VALLEJO, CA
KIM COPELAND PRODUCTIONS, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
KEG RESTAURANT, TORONTO, RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO, ST. JAMES
WINNIPEG, CANADA
LARSON-JUHL CORP, CRAIG & JUNE PONIZO
LIFOKA GRAFISCHE, DEN HAAG, HOLLAND
LOEWS CORP., NEW YORK, NEW YORK
LOGAN, TOM, CEO MIRION TECHNOLOGIES SAN RAMON, CA.
LOOPER, REED, MARK & MCGRAW, HOUSTON, TX
MARRIOTT COPLEY PLACE, BOSTON, MA.
MATHEMATICA POLICY RESEARCH WASHINGTON, DC
MAYER, BROWN, ROWE, & MAW, WASHINGTON, DC
MEANY & OLIVER, MCLEAN, VA
MEMORIAL HERMAN – TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS

MFA MOODY, FAMIGLIETTE & ANDRONICO,TEWKSBURY, MA.
MIRION TECHNOLOGIES INC, SAN RAMON, CA
MOPAR, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
MOTOROLA COMPANY, DALLAS, TX
NASA’S STENNIS SPACE CENTER, STARKVILLE, MS
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, BOSTON, MA
PACIFIC UNION REAL ESTATE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
PARADIGM ESTATE WINES, OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
PALMER & DODGE, BOSTON, MA
PIEDMONT REALITY,WASHINGTON,D.C.
PILKO & ASSOCIATES, HOUSTON, TX
PRINCE, LOBEL, GLOVSKY & TYE, LLP.BOSTON, MA
PRESIDIO GROUP, WASHINGTON, D.C.
ROBERTS HOME & VIDEO INC, LOS ANGELES, CA.
SAGE HILL PARTNERS, CAMBRIDGE, MA
SANFORD BERNSTEIN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
SCHNAEDER, HARRISON, SEGAL & LEWIS LAWOFFICES, ATLANTA, GA
SCM MICROSYSTEMS, LOS GATOS, CA
SCUDDER, STEVENS & CLARK, BOSTON, MA
SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS, BOSTON, MA
SIMPLEX CORP, WESTMINSTER, MA
SIMPLEX INC., BOSTON, MA
SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, & FLOM, BOSTON, MA
SKY ACROSS, TOKYO, JAPAN
SOUNDBOARD CONSULTING GROUP LLC BOONTON TOWNSHIP, N. J.
STONEBRIDGE ASSOCIATES, BOSTON, MA
SUMMITT BANK, OAKLAND, WALNUT CREEK &EMERYVILLE, CA
SUNSET MAGAZINE IDEA HOUSE, SAN JOSE, CA.
SYMANTEC CORPORATION, NEW YORK & CUPERTINO, CA
TARGET CORP, MICHAEL & MEENA MCNAMARAC CIO
MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
THOMAS MIZO CHADWICK, SAYLOR & CO., LOS ANGELES, CA
TISBURY CAPITAL, BOSTON, MA
TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, COLUMBUS, GA
TUFTS DENTAL SCHOOL, BOSTON, MA
UNITED HEALTH CARE, AUSTIN & MEILSSA PITTMAN, CEO,
MINNEAPOLIS MN.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, IOWA
UNICCO, AUBURNDALE, MA
USAA LAW OFFICES, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
WASHINGTON REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, ROCKVILLE, MD
WAYPOINT CAPITAL, BOSTON, MA.
WELLS FARGO BANK, PASADANA, CA.
WILMER HALE, NEW YORK, NY
WUSTHOF KNIVES, SOLINGEN, GERMANY
XL CORP. HAMILTON, BERMUDA

CRITICAL REVIEWS

GALLERIES WEST MAGAZINE 2012
VALLEY SENTINEL, PLEASANTON, CA 2012
ARTNEWS MAGAZINE 2010
URBAN TULSA WEEKLY, TULSA, OK 2010
BOTTOM LINE, PALM DESSERT, 2008
CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 2006
SAN DIEGO NEWS, 2004
LAGUNA NEWS POST, 2000
THE ARTISTS MAGAZINE, 1999
WWW. ABOUT.COM, 1999
THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN, AUGUST,1998

THE GUILD, 1998
ART EXPRESSIONS MAGAZINE, JUNE, 1997
THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH, JUNE, 1997

James C. Leonard