Curriculum Vitae

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2023    Battle Scars. The New Protagonist. Mansfield Art Center. Mansfield, OH
2022    All of Me. Kaiser Gallery. Cleveland, OH

 

EXHIBITIONS:

2024   Things That Can't Be Forgotten. Riffe Gallery. Columbus, OH
2024   Paul and Norma Tikkanen Painting Prize Juried Show. Ashtabula Art Center, Ashtabula, OH
2024   38th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition. Chelsea. New York, NY
2024   Proximity Of Fate, Triennial Exhibition. Mansfield Art Center. Mansfield, OH
Shown with Keihinde Wiley, Hank Willis Thomas, Shantell Martin, Carrie Mae Weems, Zoë Buckman
2024   Figurative Realism of Ohio. Beeler Gallery. Columbus College of Art & Design. Columbus, OH
2024   Through Her Eyes. Virgil Catherine Gallery. Chicago, IL 
2024   Street Art Show. Julia De Burgos. Rayburn Gallery. MOCA. Cleveland, OH 
2024   The New Vanguard: Explorations the New Contemporary. Keep Contemporary. Santa Fe, NM
2023    On Line: Drawing our Reality. Worthington Yards. Cleveland, OH
2023    Touch. Art Pawn. New York, NY
2023    Big @$$ Art Show. Valley Art Center. Chagrin Falls, OH
2023    Women.Life.Freedom. Woman Made Gallery. Chicago, IL
2023    Woman XV. The Gallery at Lakeland. Kirtland, OH
2023    Her Story. Virgil Catherine Gallery. Chicago, IL
2023    Windows to the Inside: Expressions of Mental Health. Woman Made Gallery. Chicago, IL
2023    Art Rise. Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA
2023    Women.Life.Freedom. Mozaik Philanthropy. International Virtual Show of Honorariums. 
2022    Paul and Norma Painting Prize Juried Show. Ashtabula, OH
2022    101 Wishes. A benefit for Max. Bonfoey Gallery. Cleveland, OH
2022    CAN Triennial. You Are Here. Bonfoey Gallery / CSU Gallery. Cleveland, OH
2022    Bearing Witness: Urgent Response Unprecedented Times. D. Colabella Gallery. Ridgefield, CT
2022   Biennial Juried Exhibition. Medici Museum of Art. Warren, Ohio
2021    Biennial Juried Exhibition. Riffe Gallery. Columbus, Ohio
2021    BYND LMTS. National Group Show RPAC Gallery. Ridgefield, CT
2021    All About Women. National Juried Show. Marin Society of Artists. San Raphael, CA
2021    All Women’s Show. Group Show. District Gallery. Cleveland, Ohio
2021    Gaze. International All Women’s Show. All She Makes & Art to Hearts. India.
2021    Mouse House Party Group Exhibition. Akron Art Museum. Current Cleveland. Cleveland, Ohio
2021    Re-Imagining Democracy. Future Art Awards. National Group Show. Mozaik Philanthropy. 
2021    Cleveland Print Room’s International Peer Show. Cleveland, Ohio
2021    Ohio Art League Spring Juried Show. Columbus, Ohio
2021    Women in Art 2021. Las Laguna Art Gallery. Laguna Beach, California
2021    One in a Year. The Painting Center. Chelsea. Manhattan, New York
2021    Spaces Member Juried Show 2021. Spaces. Cleveland, Ohio
2019    I AM A WOMAN. Lichtundfire Gallery. Manhattan, New York
2019    Figurtivas 2019 Semifinalist. European Museum of Modern Art. Barcelona, Spain
2018    Artwork Chosen for Midtown billboard during Art Basel. Miami, Florida
2018    Ohio Art League Fall Juried Show. Ft. Hayes Shot Tower. Columbus, Ohio
2016    60 Americans. Makeshift Museum. Los Angeles, California
2010    BMA Spring Show. Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland, Ohio
2009    Virtue, Vice, and Contraband. Allen Memorial Medical Library, CWRU. Cleveland, Ohio
2009    The Art and Science of Botanical Illustration. Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Cleveland, Ohio
2009    IME Show and BMA Spring Show. Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland, Ohio
2008    BMA Spring Show. Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland, Ohio
2007    Annual CCAD Student Exhibition. Columbus College of Art & Design. Columbus, Ohio
2006    Young American Patriotic Art Show. National VFW Women’s Auxiliary. Reno, Nevada
2006    National Congressional District Art Show. U.S. Capitol Building. Washington, D.C.
2006    Regional Ohio Congressional District Art Show. Akron, Ohio
2006    Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. James A. Rhodes State Office Tower. Columbus, Ohio
2006    National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Alliance Gallery. Manhattan, New York
2006    Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Lorain County Community College. Elyria, Ohio
2005    National Congressional District Art Show. Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office. Washington, D.C.
2005    Regional Ohio Congressional District Art Show. Akron, Ohio
2005    National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Diane Von Furstenberg Studio. Manhattan, New York
2005    National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Alliance Gallery. Manhattan, New York

 

ART FAIRS:

2024  Art Miami. Art Unified. Miami, FL
2024   Other Art Fair. Visionary Projects. Zero Space. Brooklyn, NY
2024  Volta Art Fair. Art Unified. Armory Week. Chelsea Industrial. New York, NY
2024   Intersect Art and Design. Art Unified. Aspen, CO
2024   Hamptons Fine Art Fair. Art Unified. Southhampton Fairgrounds. Southhampton, NY
2024   Affordable Art Fair. Art Unified. Palmer Events Center. Austin, TX
2024   Other Art Fair. Saatchi Art. Chicago, IL
2024   LA Art Show. Art Unified. LA Convention Center. Los Angeles, CA
2024   Art Palm Beach. Art Unified. Palm Beach County Convention Center. Palm Beach, FL
2023    Scope Art Fair. Art Unified. Miami, FL
2023    Affordable Art Fair. Art Unified. New York, NY
2023   Hamptons Fine Art Fair. Tuckahoe, NY
2023   Art Market San Francisco. Art Unified. San Francisco, CA
2023   Affordable Art Fair. Art Unified. Los Angeles, CA
2022    Scope. Art Unified. Miami, FL
2022    Art Market Hamptons Art Fair. Bridgehampton, NY
2022    LA Art Show. Art Unified. Los Angeles, CA
 

PUBLICATIONS & PRESS:

2024   Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. Go Figure. Nov/Dec 2024 
2024   PA33 Fall 2024. Artist features & Interviews. 33 Contemporary. Poets & Artists. 
2024   Tuesday @7, Multidisciplinary Artist Leigh Brooklyn Shares Her Story with Roger Miller. June 4th
2024   Artist Feature: Leigh Brooklyn. Canvas Rebel. January 2024
2023   Artist Feature: Leigh Brooklyn. Bold Journey Magazine. November 2023
2023   Cross Country Camera with Stephen Kennedy. August 2023
2023   Virtues and Vocations. A Glimmer of Hope. Horizontality in the Leadership and Art of Women.Life.Freedom. Notre Dame University for Social Concerns
2023   Sittin' with Kelby King. Talk Show Interview. WMFD TV. June 14th
2023   Canvas Magazine. Breaking Boundaries. Leigh Brooklyn Explores Concepts of Women's Identity and Strength. Cover and Featured Article. Spring 2023      
2023  Richland Source. Mansfield Live Art Talk April 13th. March 30th
2023  Richland Source. Mansfield middle schoolers learn about street art during Mansfield Art Center Visit. March 27th
2023   WMFD.COM. Mansfield Art Center Debuts New Exhibits from March 19th Through April 16th. March 21
2023   Artelibre. ModPortrait. Barcelona, Spain. 
2023    CAN Journal. Empowered & Armed: Hijacking the Female Narrative: Leigh Brooklyn at Mansfield. March, 3, 2023
2022    Cleveland Scene MagazineArtist Leigh Brooklyn Displays Anatomical Mastery, Dystopian Vision in "All of   ME".  Sept. 29, 2022
2022    CAN Journal. The CAN Triennial 2022 Purchase and Exhibition Prizes. August, 2022
2022    Adcom Cleveland Arts Podcast, Episode 2. Recorded June, 6, 2022
2022    068 Magazine. On Bearing Witness: An Urgent Response to Unprecedented Times. March-April
2022    Mimi Magazine. Girl Power: Meet the Artist: Leigh Brooklyn. February, 2022 
2022    Mills Road. Leigh Brooklyn, Artist. Feature. January 2, 2022 
2021    American Illustration 40. Book published featuring the top illustrations in the year 2020. Nov.  
2021    WKYC News 1. All Good News: We’re explaining the newest mural up in public square. Sept. 15
2021    Cleveland.com. Tennis in the Land Finals Set: Spirited Matches, Cleveland on Display. Aug 27        
2021    FreshWater Cleveland. Students, artists team up w/ Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Aug. 26
2021    Spectrum News 1. NE Ohio Artist Uses Talents to Combat Domestic Abuse. Jan. 23, 2021
2020    More By Her. Leigh Brooklyn, Figurative Artist and Activist. Dec.16, 2020
2020    Fresh Water Cleveland. Dropping a  Love Bomb: Local Artist Fights Domestic Violence with Newest Series. 
2020    Creative Compass. Leigh Brooklyn: Creating a Women’s Empowerment Movement. Oct. 14
2019    WhiteHot Magazine. I AM A WOMAN. July 2019
2019    FreshWater Cleveland. 5 Up-and-Coming Artists to Watch in Cleveland. July 2019
2019    Beautiful Bizarre. Leigh Bongiorno and the Importance of Portraits in our Digital Age. April 20
2019    ArtVoices Magazine 10th Annual Special Edition. Cover & Feature. Spring 2019
2019    WhiteHot Magazine. Artist Leigh Bongiorno: Wants to Change the World. March 2019
2019    American Art Collector. Collector’s Focus. March 2019
2018    Beautiful Bizarre. Loving Humanity: The American Realism of Leigh Bongiorno. Dec. 2018
2018    The Cleveland Foundation. InterUrban Phase II Debuts. Part of Cleveland Book Week. Sept. 28
2018    Cleveland Scene Magazine. 23 Artists You Should be Following on Instagram. Sept. 2018
2017    ArtVoices Magazine 9th Annual Special Edition. Cover & Feature. Winter 2017
2017    Real Art Real Talk. Episode 3: In the Studio: Leigh Bongiorno. By Clayton Campbell. YouTube
2013    Surgical Atlas of Intestinal Stomas, Cleveland Clinic
2011    Santa’s Hideaway Hollows. Children’s Book
2010    Digital Art Revolution. Scott Ligon 
2006    National VFW Women’s Auxiliary Magazine

 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION:

2024  10th Portrait. Talent Prize. Teravarna Art Gallery 
2024  Paul and Norma Painting Prize. Ashtabula Art Center. Ashtabula, OH
2024  88th Annual Midyear Show. Butler Institute of American Art. Youngstown, OH
2023   77th Ohio Annual Exhibition. Best in Painting. Zanesville Museum of Art. Zanesville, OH
2023   Denis Diderot Grant. Chateau Orquevaux. Orquevaux, France
2023   American Illustration 42. 1 of 393 artists selected from 8000 entries from the US. AI - PI. Manhattan, NY
2023    Women.Life.Freedom. Future Art Awards. Mozaik Philanthropy Virtual Show of Honorariums
2022    Paul and Norma Painting Prize. Ashtabula Art Center. Ashtabula, OH
2022    Solo Exhibition Award at CAN Triennial. The Mansfield Art Center Museum. Mansfield, OH
2022    Art Thug. One of Sixty Six artists given hoodies as cultural creators & activists across the US. Los Angeles, CA
2021    American Illustration 40. 1 of 426 artists selected from 7000 entries from the US. AI - PI. Manhattan, NY
2021    All About Women. National Juried Show. Honorable Mention. Marin Society of Artists. San Raphael, CA
2021    Mozaik Philanthropy National 2nd Annual Future Art Awards. Virtual Show of Honorariums
2021    Cleveland Print Room’s International Peer Show. Honorable Mention. Cleveland, Ohio
2021    Ohio Art League Spring Juried Show. Honorable Mention. Columbus, Ohio
2020    Spaces Juried Member Show. People’s Choice. Spaces. Cleveland, Ohio
2020    Spaces Emergency Relief Grant. Spaces. Cleveland, Ohio
2020    Boynes International Emerging Artist Award. Melbourne, Australia
2013    Association of Medical Illustrators. Award of Merit for contributions to the Surgical Atlas of Intestinal Stomas. 
2007    Columbus College of Art & Design. President’s List. Columbus, Ohio
2006    Columbus College of Art & Design. Trustees Scholarship and Top Scholar Student. Columbus, Ohio
2006     Nat’l Congressional District Art Show. Best of Show & First in Drawing. U.S. Capitol Building. D.C.
2006     National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. American Vision Gold Award. Alliance Gallery. Manhattan, NY
2006     National VFW Women’s Auxiliary Patriotic Art Competition. Best in State & 2nd in U.S. Reno, Nevada
2005     Nat’l Congressional District Art Show. First in Painting & 2nd Overall. Washington D.C.
2005    National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. American Vision Gold Award. Diane Von Furstenberg Studio. Manhatten, NY
2005    National VFW Women’s Auxiliary Patriotic Art Competition. Best in State. Cincinnati, Ohio

 

ARTIST TALKS & SPEAKING:

2023     Artist Talk. Mansfield Art Center. Mansfield Ohio, Ohio                                                                  
- Talk for solo show: Battle Scars, The New Protagonist. April 13th
2023     Artist Talk. Soaring with Help, Hope, and Healing. Mansfield Art Center. Mansfield, Ohio         
- Artist talk with Brittoney Roane and Nicole Brown Horsten
2023    Keynote Speaker. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Cleveland Institute of Art. OH
- Asked to speak about my experience with scholastics and to inspire the students. Jan.
2022     Artist Talk. Kaiser Gallery. Cleveland, Ohio                                                                  
- Talk for solo show All of Me. Nov. 2nd
2022     Keynote Speaker. The Collective. Kaiser Gallery. Cleveland, Ohio                                                                  
- Talked about marketing and networking in the Arts. Oct. 27th
2022    Keynote Speaker. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio
- Asked to speak about my experience with scholastics and to inspire the students. Feb. 18th. 2022
2021    Virtual Artist Talk. Riffe Gallery. Biennial Juried Exhibition. Columbus, Ohio
- Solo artist talk and for 2021 Biennial show. Dec. 15th. 2021
2021    Virtual Studio Tour & Artist Talk. Column & Stripe. Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH
- Spoke about influences, inspiration, process, marketing and goal setting with group members at studio
2021    Virtual Artist Talk. Garrett, Indiana
- Spoke with BFA candidates about marketing in the arts
2020    Virtual Artist talk. 7 Hills International School. Uganda
- Talked about influences, process, goal setting and marketing in the arts to middle school
2019    Artist Talk, Panel Discussion. Lichtundfire Gallery. New York, NY
- Artists in show I AM A WOMAN  spoke with Noah Becker on the show 

 

FUNDRAISERS, CHARITY & ACTIVISM:

2024   Votes Ohio Art. Creative Ohio & Greater Columbus Arts Council. Columbus OH
- Artwork used to encourage creative individuals in Ohio to vote
2023    Women's Fund of Central Ohio. Columbus, Ohio
- Created artwork to silent auction off art solo show in Mansfield Art Center to raise money.
2022     101 Wishes. A Benefit for Max. Bonfoey Gallery. Cleveland, Ohio
- One of 50 Artists donating work to cover stem cell infusions to save a fellow artist’s son. Sept. 12
2022    Ceremonial Inauguration of Mayor Justin Bibbs. Cleveland, Ohio
- Artist selected to show work in video for the ceremony. Jan. 8th. 2022
2021    Live Painting at Tennis in the Land  for The City Mission.
- Part of the Women's Tennis Association US Open Series. Cleveland, OH
- Raised money for homeless shelter by raffling off an oil painting made at the event. 
2021    W.A.G.S for Kids. Cleveland, Ohio
- Created artwork for fundraiser to give service animals to Autistic children in Cleveland
2020    Journey Center for Safety and Healing. Cleveland, Ohio
- Created artwork for Cleveland’s domestic abuse shelter to raise funding and awareness
2020    Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. Cleveland, Ohio
- Commissioned to draw portrait of one of the founders. Work with rehabilitating those previously incarcerated

 

COMMITTEES & GROUPS:

2024    Zygote Press Member. Zygote Press. Cleveland, OH
- Membership for access to studio workshop throughout the year
 2024    Contemporary Art Society. Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, Ohio
 2022    The Collective : Women’s Professional Group. Kaiser Gallery. Cleveland, Ohio
- Co-created women’s networking group with guest speakers and catering. Launch event. Aug. 18th
2019    Murray Hill Life Drawing Group. Cleveland, Ohio
2018-2021    Cleveland Institute of Art. Alumni Council Member. Cleveland, Ohio
- Subcommittee member as well for CIA’s alumni social media and class reunions
2018-2021    Cleveland Museum of Art. Column and Stripe, Co-Chair Programming. Cleveland, Ohio

 

PUBLIC ART:

2023     Mural & Diorama Project. Crane Creek Wildlife Reservation. Oak Harbor, Ohio
- Worked with Graphite Design + Build painting landscapes for bird wildlife installations.
2022    Art House Collaborative Mural. Campus International. Cleveland, Ohio
- Lead artist and art teacher on children’s mural in downtown Cleveland. 1st-4th grades. July
2021    It’s Almost Tomorrow Mural. Collaboration with Amanda D. King. Cleveland, Ohio
- Created a mural with students of Citizens Leadership Academy SE. Public Square in downtown Cleveland for diversity and inclusivity to fight discrimination
2018    InterUrban: Public Art and Culture Connector. RTA’s Red Line. Cleveland, Ohio
- One of 25 local, national, & international artists selected to illustrate the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Winning Literature for the windows of the Regional Transit Authority train cars. My subject: Deafness
2006-07    Common Grounds Mural Arts Project. Oberlin, Ohio
- Artist and supervisor on murals with teens in the Boys and Girls Club and court appointed teens

 

JURYING:

2024   Juror. Cain Park Art Festival. Cleveland Heights, OH
- Juried show of 144 artist booths
2024   Juror. Stella Art Gallery. Willoughby, OH
- Juried show for local gallery

 

SELECT TEACHING:

2023     Street Art Workshop. Mansfield Middle School. Mansfield Art Center. Mansfield, Ohio
- Taught Mansfield Middle School students about street art stenciling in conjunction with solo show
2023    Broadway School of Music and the Arts. Cleveland, Ohio
- Taught art classes with middle schoolers in the the Cleveland Metropolitan School District
2022     Art House. Cleveland, Ohio
- Taught art classes with elementary & middle school throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan School District
2022     Street Art Workshop for Reelabilities Intl Film Festival. Museum of Contemporary Art. Cleveland, Ohio
- Taught street art stenciling in conjunction with screening of No Bone: A story of Survival. Sept 24th
2022     Procreate Workshop. Future Ink Graphics. Cleveland, Ohio
- Taught two-day workshop on Procreate digital software on Ipads. Sept 3rd & 10th

 

BIOMEDICAL ILLUSTRATION:

University Hospitals. Freelance Illustrator. Cleveland, Ohio
- Digitally illustrated anatomical images for the hospital’s gastroenterology department
Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Intern in the Medical Illustration Department.  Cleveland, Ohio
- Digitally illustrated anatomical images for surgical books & updated physician presentations
Novelmed Therapeutics. Cleveland, Ohio
- Digitally illustrated monoclonal antibody therapy and disease pathways for websites and brochures

 

EDUCATION:

JVS, Welding & Fab. SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, Plasma. AWS D1.1 Struct. Cert. 3G MIG
Lakeland Community College, Arc Welding Fundamentals
Cleveland Institute of Art, B.F.A. Biomedical Illustration
Cuyahoga Community College. Cross-registered for African American Literature
Cleveland State University, Cross-registered for Human Biology and Endocrinology
Case Western Reserve University, Cross-registered for Biology, Anatomy & Physiology
Lorain County Community College, Associates in Entrepreneurship
Columbus College of Art & Design, Foundation Studies

 

APPRENTICESHIPS & CONTINUED EDUCATION:

2024                    Etching & Printmaking Class. Zygote Press. Cleveland, OH
                           - Learned techniques for copper etching 
2024-Present    Apprenticeship Stone Carving. Vermillion, OH
                          - Learning classical European techniques for stone carving and masonry
2019                    Studio to Street. Land Studio. Cleveland, Ohio
                          - Attended 2 day workshop to learn about public art and art proposals
2019                   Portrait Society of America National Conference. Atlanta, Georgia
                          - Attended workshops to learn about portraiture and meet renown figurative artists
2019                   Understudied Nationally Acclaimed Sculptor. Cleveland, Ohio
                          - learned techniques for classical figurative sculpture using oil based clay for bronze
2005                   Understudied National Portrait Artist. Cleveland, Ohio
                         - Learned techniques for charcoal and pastel for realistic portrait drawings

 

RESIDENCIES:

2023    Château d'Orquevaux, Orquevaux, Champagne, France
2026    Scuola Internazionale Di Grafica Venezia. Venice, Italy
 

GALLERIES & COLLECTIONS:

2024   Poets & Artists, 33 Contemporary. Palm Beach, FL
2024   Makeshift Museum. Los Angeles, CA
2023   Virgil Catherine Gallery. Chicago, IL
2021    Art Unified. Venice, CA
2020    District Gallery. Cleveland, OH
*Various Private Collections