Leslie Lew

Born in New York City in 1953, Leslie Lew grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey and in Chicago. Her father was a well-known executive art director and her subject matter was influenced by the commercial ads and products that surrounded her. Her underlying theme deals with childhood memories and growing up in America. She examines American culture and how it reflects on our tastes historically—good or bad.

For over twenty-five years, Leslie Lew has been painting in a technique that she calls “Sculpted Oils." She received her BFA And MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she studied with Ray Yoshida. Yoshida was part of the non-mainstream art movement of the “Hairy Who." She started her thick style with the "Supermarket" series in which she built out all the products with sculpted oil paint.

During her graduate work she was invited to participate in the SUNY/Semester in New York City where she was given a studio and had weekly critiques by respected artists. She ended up staying in NYC and had her first solo show at Sensory Evolution Gallery as one of the artists from the East Village Art Movement.

Leslie lives and works near Peekskill, NY. She has been a professor at the College of New Rochelle, and was selected for the Westchester Bienniel 2006 and 2008. She received a grant for a children's book called "Buki's Garden."

Her work has been included in art book publications "Encyclopedia of Living Artists in America," "East Village: A Guide, A Documentary”, "East Village 86” "Comic Release- Negotiating Identity for a New Generation," and "The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse." She has exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Sofia, Bulgaria.