Embedded Files
Was the gallery's featured artist October 2023 with release of her new book
ARTIST STATEMENT/BIO
Monica Leo is a first-generation American, born to German refugees in the waning days of World War Two. After the war, her parents ordered a set of Kasperle hand puppets from a German craftswoman, and Monica began telling stories with puppets. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she studied for two years at the State Art Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany, with Josef Beuys. There she discovered that her visual sense was influenced by the illustrated Grimms’ Fairy Tale book she devoured as a child. Since 1975, she has been creating and performing as founder and principal puppeteer of Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre.
Eulenspiegel’s home is Owl Glass Puppetry Center, a tiny center in the small town of West Liberty, Iowa.
Monica also makes dolls and linoleum block prints and writes for the Puppetry Journal, a national magazine. She lives in a log cabin in the woods built by her late carpenter husband, John Jenks.
Block printing is a relief printing technique that uses a carved material (typically wood, linoleum, or rubber) to transfer ink onto fabric or paper. The block serves as a stamp, with the final product resulting in a mirror image of the carving. Woodblock prints can range from small images intended to be repeated in a pattern to large works of art that require a large printing press to print. In the past, these were also used to print entire books. Depending on the size of the knife and the quality of the material, it’s possible to capture a fine degree of detail in each print. However, since the process is generally done by hand, no two prints are ever the same.
During the 2020 pandemic, Monica wrote a book about her life, family, and puppetry. It will be available October 2023 from Ice Cube Press and is titled Hand.Shadow.Rod: The Story of Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre. Since 1974, Eulenspiegel has toured in thirty-one states and four other countries while also establishing and maintaining a nationally known puppetry center in West Liberty, Iowa. Her memoir traces its history and explores the relationship between work and play, between loss and recovery, between puppets and puppeteers. It reflects on midwestern life between the late 1970's and the present day.
Monica is a board member on the West Liberty Area Arts Council, teaches various classes/workshops, and serves on the Brick Street Gallery committee.
ON DISPLAY
BOOK
"Hand, Shadow, Rod. "
The Story of Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
Book
BSG-ML-031-044
$21.95
DOLLS
"Curly Hair, Spring dress, Barefoot"
Doll, mixed media
ML-060
$78
"Red Hair, Green Eyes, Green Tights"
Doll, mixed media
ML-059
$78
PUPPETS
"Duck Hand Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-067
$30
"Dog Hand Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-068
$30
"Forest Boy Hand Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-070
$55
"Red Flower Hand Puppet"
Fabric
ML-092
$24
"Lavender Flower Hand Puppet"
Fabric
ML-093
$24
FINGER PUPPETS
"Monkey Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-072
$19
"Orange Cat Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-073
$19
"Snake Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-074
$19
"One-eyed Polly Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-075
$19
"Lion Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-076
$19
"Yellow Dress Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-078
$19
"Pig Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-079
$19
FRAMED PRINTS
"The Big Election"
Linoleum Print
ML-041
$55
"Children's Festival 2021"
Linoleum Print
ML-043
$55
"Children's Festival 2017"
Linoleum Print
ML-049
$55
"Marcel and His Teddy"
Linoleum Print
ML-045
$40
UNFRAMED PRINTS
"Remembering Buxton"
Linoleum Print
ML-034.01
$15
"Uncle Rabbit's Adventures"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-036.1
$15
"The Big Election"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-041.01
$15
"Children's Festival 2021"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-043.01
$15
"Shenanigans: Animals in Charge"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-042.01
$15
"Shenanigans: Animals in Charge"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-042.02
$15
"Puppets...People...Peace"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.4
$15
"Magical Moonshine..."
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.5
$15
"Sal Fink..."
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.6.01
$15
"Sal Fink..."
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.6.02
$15
"Portraits of the Prairie"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.7
$15
"5 Suns of the Aztecs"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.8
$15
"Coyote's Eyeball"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.9
$15
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.10
$15
"Children's Festival 2010"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.11
$15
"Education of a Donkey"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.12
$15
"Children's Festival Sept. 24"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.13
$15
"Cock-A Doodle Circus!"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.15
$15
"Children's Festival 2017"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-049.01
$15
"Children's Festival 2009"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.16
$15
"Children's Festival 20011"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.17
$15
"Tom Thumb"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.18
$15
"A Soldier's Tale"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.19
$15
"Children's Festival Sept. 7"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.20.01
$15
"Immigrant Stew at the Chat 'n' Chew""
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.21
$15
"Magical Moonshine Theatre Animalitos"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.22
$15
"Cinderella!"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.23
$15
GALLERY HISTORY
“Garden Sprite”
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-4
$150
“Goose Lady”
(doll)
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-1
$150
“Clown”
(puppet)
Cloth & neoprene
ML-6
$45
“Blonde Lady”
(puppet)
Cloth & neoprene
ML-2
$45
“Army Ant”
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-5
$125
“Gnome”
(puppet)
Cloth & neoprene
ML-3
$45 (SOLD)
"Girl Doll with Overalls"
(doll)
Mixed Media
ML-020
$72
"Girl Doll with Dress"
(doll)
Mixed Media
ML-021
$72
"Finger Puppet - Bear"
Mixed Media
ML-009
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Parrot"
Mixed Media
ML-026
$18
"Finger Puppet - Possum"
Mixed Media
ML-013
$18
"Finger Puppet - Pig"
Mixed Media
ML-012
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Bluebird"
Mixed Media
ML-007
$18
"Finger Puppet - Frog"
Mixed Media
ML-014
$18
"Finger Puppet - Girl in Red"
Mixed Media
ML-010
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Raccoon"
Mixed Media
ML-018
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Witch"
Mixed Media
ML-019
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Fox"
Mixed Media
ML-011
$18
"Finger Puppet - Goldfinch"
Mixed Media
ML-015
$18
"Finger Puppet - Donkey"
Mixed Media
ML-017
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Goat"
Mixed Media
ML-016
$18 (SOLD)
"Finger Puppet - Cardinal"
Mixed Media
ML-008
$18
"Finger Puppet - Girl with Hat"
Mixed Media
ML-024
$18
"Finger Puppet - Cat"
Mixed Media
ML-025
$18 (SOLD)
"Blue Haired Lady"
Hand Puppet
Mixed Media
ML-022
$48
"Pig"
Hand Puppet
Mixed Media
ML-023
$30
Old Man Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-027
$56 (SOLD)
Blue Clothing Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-028
$57
"Female with Blue Clothing and Pigtails" Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-031
$59 (SOLD)
Female with Purple Dress and Crown Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-032
$57 (SOLD)
Old Woman Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-033
$57
"Remembering Buxton"
Linoleum Print
ML-034
$55 (SOLD)
"A Magical Winter's Night"
Linoleum Print
ML-035
$55 (SOLD)
"A Magical Winter's Night"
Linoleum Print
ML-035.1
$15 (SOLD)
"Uncle Rabbit's Adventures"
Linoleum Print
ML-036
$55
"Kate Shelley's Train Rescue"
Linoleum Print
ML-037
$55 (SOLD)
"Magical Fish and Mermaids"
Linoleum Print
ML-038
$55 (SOLD)
"Bremen Town Musicians"
Linoleum Print
ML-039
$55
"Bremen Town Musicians"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-039.1, ML-039.2
$15 (2 SOLD)
"Appleseed!"
Linoleum Print
ML-040
$55
"Appleseed!"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-040.1
$15
"The Big Election"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-041.02
$15 (SOLD)
"Shenanigans"
Linoleum Print
ML-042
$55 (SOLD)
"Children's Festival 2021"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-043.02
$15 (SOLD)
"Children's Festival 2023"
Linoleum Print
ML-044
$55 (SOLD)
"Children's Festival 2023"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-044.01
$15 (SOLD)
"The Puppeteer vs. the Wind"
Linoleum Print
ML-047
$40 (SOLD)
"Hunter Marionettes..."
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.1
$15
"Children's Festival with WL Chamber"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.2
$15
"Everyone's lining up for...Children's Festival"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.3
$15
"Children's Festival Sept. 7"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.20.02
$15 (SOLD)
Tall Wizard Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-029
$76
Red Clothing Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-030
$55
"Peter and His Cats"
Linoleum Print
ML-046
$40 (SOLD)
"Fox Marionette"
Papier-maché & Fabric
ML-048
NFS
"Female with Dark Hair and Gold Dress"
Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-051
$59 (SOLD)
"Jester"
Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-052
$59 (SOLD)
"Wizard"
Puppet
Cloth & papier-mâché
ML-053
$59 (SOLD)
"Puppet with Red Dress & Braids"
Mixed media, fabric, papier-mâche
ML-061
$58
"Puppet w. Striped Dress, Pony Tails"
Mixed media, fabric, papier-mâche
ML-062
$58
"Puppet with Hood"
Mixed media, fabric, papier-mâche
ML-063
$58
"Puppet - Wizard"
Mixed media, fabric, papier-mâche
ML-064
$58
"Pig Hand Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-065
$30 (SOLD)
"Rabbit Hand Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-066
$30 (SOLD)
"Fairy Girl Hand Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-069
$55 (Removed)
"Thirty Years and Growing"
Unframed Linoleum Print
ML-050.14
$15 (SOLD)
"Grrrr"
Finger Puppet
ML-054
$19 (SOLD)
"Pig"
Finger Puppet
ML-055
$19
"Crowned White-hair"
Finger Puppet
ML-056
$19
"Mini Wizard"
Finger Puppet
ML-057
$19
"Green Guy with Long Tongue"
Finger Puppet
ML-058
$19
"Black Cat Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-071
$19 (SOLD)
"Gray Rabbit Finger Puppet"
Mixed Media
ML-077
$19 (SOLD)
"Yellow Duck Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-080
$19
"Bunny Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-081
$19
"Parrot Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-082
$19
"Mouse Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-083
$19
"Orange Cat Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-084
$19
"Blue Bird Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-085
$19
"White Duck Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-086
$19
"Turtle Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-087
$19
"Frog Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-088
$19
"Snake Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-089
$19
"Flying Pig Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-090
$19
"Penguin Ornament"
Mixed Media
ML-091
$19
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