Artist
Portfolios
Leslie
Bell
Leslie Bell was born in 1947 in Duke Ellington's hometown of Washington
D.C. and grew up in the galleries and museums there. He studied
with Christian Brothers in high school, ran track and
cross-country and watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Mr. Bell came
to the Midwest in 1965 to study art with Father Edward Catich, the
world-renowned calligrapher, epigrapher and graphic
designer, at St. Ambrose University earning his BA there in 1972.
He received an MFA in painting in 1974 from Northern Illinois University
, where he studied with Walter Ball and Richard Beard. His artwork
has been displayed in one-person shows at many universities and
galleries from coast to coast and has been represented in galleries
in Chicago , Atlanta , Tampa and the Quad Cities .
Mr. Bell's work has been figurative for 15 years and tells stories
of love, education, longing and nature. Jerry Cullum, editor of
Art Paper and critic for Art in America has said, “His recent paintings
are a rare combination of vision, skill and wit.” “The stories are
enacted in brilliantly composed landscapes amid stunning effects
of light.”
“ Bell 's imagination has created not just magical realism, but
real magic.”
His awards include a fellowship in painting from Arts Midwest/NEA,
the Special Recognition ward—best in painting—from the Des Moines
Art Center in Iowa Artists, two first prize and purchase awards
from the Davenport Museum of Art (Figge Art Museum), and grants
from the Iowa Arts Council and Quad City Arts.
Mr.
Bell is a founding member and chair of the Artist Advisory Council
to the Figge Art Museum in Davenport , Iowa , and founding member
of Open Cities Film Society, the Photo Image League and Riverssance
Festival of Fine Arts. He's been a professional musician and plays
guitar and
harmonica. He is a professor of art at St. Ambrose University in
Davenport , Iowa where he lives with his wife, Sara, who is also
a painter.
| 
"A
Big Board, A Little Bored"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase
|
"A
World Without Men"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
|
|
"Even
With Satan"
40"
x 45"
Available
for Purchase |
"For
Susan Glaspell"
48"
x 55" |
| |
|
"Homeland"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase
|
"A
Nickel for the Buffalo"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
| |
|
"The
Ghost Child"
40"
x 45"
Available
for Purchase |
"The
Ghost of an Old Trombone"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
| |
|
"The
Little Kind Does Reehoboth"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
"The
Two Neds"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
|
|
"There
Are No Dumb Animals"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
"Tortoise
Shell Angel"
48"
x 55"
Available
for Purchase |
| |
|
top of page |
