Florida Artists Group

Artists Bio:

Leal’s interest in Sociology and Anthropology influences her artistic endeavors. Migrations, acculturation and the interrelations between peoples from a range of cultures provide a fertile ground for exploration, challenging and imbuing content in her art.

Leal began her art career working in clay, the most ancient of crafts.  After several years producing glazed pots, she created large, non-utilitarian vessels painted with acrylics.  Ultimately, painting became a passion: canvas and paper replaced clay. Soon after, she began exploring sculpture, installation art, collage, printmaking and most recently, encaustics, another ancient craft. She believes that all art forms are interrelated and knowledge and experience gained from one medium facilitates and informs others.

Grace Leal was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to the United States as a child. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from the College of the Sacred Heart in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Since 1971 she has resided in Florida where she keeps a studio.


Artist Statement:

I am a multi-media artist working across several disciplines: paintings, collages, monotypes, encaustics, and mixed media sculptures and installations. I work in several media because the content in my work needs to be expressed in different ways, at different times.  Sometimes narration takes precedence, and sometimes it is a sheer expression of passion in an abstract work that includes just shapes, forms and colors.

As an artist, I love to be free and let my imagination take charge and go wherever it feels.  One idea leads to another, one thought links to the next, one color determines the next one used.  When I go to my studio, I never know what is going to happen.   I just know, from experience, that if I allow myself to trust, relax, and start working, something magical will happen and a dialogue will begin between my mind, my emotions and my hands.

Exhibitions:

Solo Exhibitions:

“Protection from Within,” Outer Space Gallery,Winter Haven, FL 2017
“Grace Leal,” Frits Van Eeden Gallery, Foosaner Art Museum, Melbourne, FL 2016-17
“Weeds,” Magasin, Aspen CO 2013-2015
“Supplicants,” and Monotypes, The Village Culture Gallery, Aspen, CO 2010
“Monotypes,” McIntosh Art Center, Darien, GA 2008
“Monotypes,” Atlantic Center for the Arts, Harris House, New Smyrna, FL 2007
“One Thousand and One Nights and More”, Brevard Museum of Art, Melbourne, FL 2007
“One Thousand and One Nights,” Armory Art Center, Palm Beach, FL 2006
“One Thousand and One Nights,” Thomas Center Galleries, Gainesville, Fl 2006
“Monotypes,” Ridge Art Association, Winter Haven, Fl 2006
“In-Closures,” Brevard Museum of Art and Science, Melbourne, Fl 2002
“New Work,” Voila, Melbourne, Fl 2001
“Recent Works,” Voila, Melbourne, Fl 2000
Cover for SKIRT Magazine, Charleston, SC October 1998
“Tabula Rasa,” Eau Gallerie, Eau Gallie, Fl 1998
“Patterns Series,” Bernard Surf, Cocoa Beach, Fl 1996
“Freedom Seekers,” Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, Eau Gallie, Fl 1995

Group Exhibitons:

“National Collage Society Postcard Show,” Butler Institute, Youngstown, OH 2018
”Ten Women in Art,” Derek Gores Gallery, Melbourne, FL 2016
“Monotypes in Red,” Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, Melbourne, FL 2016
“The National Collage Society, 31st Juried,” on line, 2015
“The National Collage Society Postcard Show,” Jewish Art Gallery, Tucson AZ 2015-16
“Ten Women in Art,” at Laserchrome, Melbourne, FL 2015
“National Collage Society, 30th Juried,” Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO 2014
“Personal Baggage, Ten Women in Art,” Court House Cultural Center, Stuart, FL 2014
“Flor 500,” Simpson’s Stopper, 2013
“The National Collage Society, 29TH Annual Juried Exhibit, on line, 2013
“The National Collage Society Annual Postcard Collage Show,” Kent St. University, OH 2013
4TH Annual Juried Exhibition, Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL 2013
“Exhibit No Fear.” Art from Taranaki, New Zealand 2013
“The National Collage Society Signature Member Show.” Mesa Arts Museum, Mesa AZ 2012
“The National Collage Society 28th Exhibition,” Berman Museum of Art, Collegeville, PA 2012
“The National Collage Society,” Wish You Were Here, Bellevue Arts Museum, WA 2012
“Witness to Creativity II,” Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL 2011
“2ND Juried Exhibition,” Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL 2011
“Out My Back Door” Ten Women in Art at Gateway Center for the Arts, Debary, FL 2011
“The National Collage Society 27th Juried Exhibition,” on line
“Time Still,” Waihi Arts Centre and Museum, Waihi, New Zealand, 2011
“Time Still,” The Learning Connexion, Taita, New Zealand, 2011
“60TH Annual All Florida Juried Competition, Boca Raton Museum, Boca Raton, FL 2011
“Jurors Choice Award Winners,” Thomas Center Gallery, Gainesville, FL 2011
“Collages,” The Learning Connexion, Taita, New Zealand 2011
“Collages,” Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford, New Zealand 2011
“Texas National 2011,” Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 2011
“1st Juried Exhibition,” Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL 2010
“Ten Women in Art,” Grey Robinson, Melbourne, FL 2010
“Ten Women in Art-Personal Baggage,” Seminole State College of Florida, Sanford, FL 2010
“Witness to Creativity,” Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL 2011, 2010
 “Wish You Were Here,” NCS, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield, OH 2010
“Musee d’Art Colle, Plemet, France 2010
“Art Colle,” Museum of Collage, Britanny, France 2010
“2010 Biennial: Florida Installation Art, Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL 2010
“Spring Into Art,” A. H. Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA 2010
“Mind, Body, Soul Exhibition, Thomas Center, Gainesville, FL 2010
“Ten Women in Art,” Terrace Gallery, at City Hall, Orlando, FL 2010
“Personal Baggage,” Ten Women in Art, UCF/BCC Library, Cocoa, FL 2010
“International Collage Exhibition,” New Plymouth, New Zealand 2013, 11, 10, 09, 08
“Ridge Art Fine Arts Exhibitions,” Winter Haven, Fl 2011, 10, 09, 08, 07, 06, 05, 04, 01
“Thomas Center Galleries Regional Juried Exhibition,” Gainesville, FL 2010, 08, 07, 06, 05
 “International Collage Collection,” Tsanko Lavrenov Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria 2009
“Good Angel/ Bad Angel,” Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL 2009
“Getting Hammered,” Brevard Art Museum, Melbourne, Fl 2009
“Inaugural Exhibition,” Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, Fl 2009
“Latin American Painting Now,” Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL 2010
“The National Collage Society 25th Juried Exhibition,” Manson Murer, Atlanta, GA, 2009
“Take Out,”at BAM and Traveling Exhibition, Brevard Art Museum, Melbourne, FL 2009
“Wish You Were Here,” The Art Center, Grand Junction, Colorado, 2009
“Wish You Were Here,” Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, 2009
“Florida Contemporary: Paintings and Photographs,” Naples Museum of Art, 2009
“Personal Baggage,” Ten Women in Art, Tampa International Airport, FL 2008-2009
“The National Collage Society 24th Annual Juried Exhibit,” Longmont Museum, CO 2008
“International Collage Exhibition,” Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo, TX 2009
“The Tallahassee International,” FSU Museum of Fine Arts, FL 2008
“Juried Exhibition,” Brevard Museum of Art & Science, Melbourne, FL 2007
“100% Pure Florida,” Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, Melbourne, FL 2007, 2006
“Affaire D’Arte,” Armory Art Center, Palm Beach, FL 2008, 2006
“Holiday Exhibition,” The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, Fl 2006
“For the Love of Art,” Museum of Art and Science, Melbourne, Fl 2006
“One Image Portrait,” Comune di Cortona, Cortona, Italy, 2006
“Juror’s Choice: The Select 2005 Winners,” Thomas Center Galleries, Gainesville, Fl 2006
“Fifth Ave. Art Gallery Anniversary,” Brevard Museum of Art and Science, Melbourne, Fl, 2005
“Vision” Strawbridge Art League, Melbourne, Fl 2004, 2003, 2001
“Chaos: Let’s Face It,” Brevard Museum of Art and Science, Melbourne, Fl 2003
“52nd Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition,” Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Fl 2003
“IV International Symposium of Digital Art,” Bellas Artes Museum, Havana, Cuba 2002
“Juried Exhibition,” DeLand Museum of Art, Deland, Fl 2001, 1999
“Harris House Invitational,” Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna, Fl 2001
“Stretchmarks,”Wednesday Group, Melbourne, Fl 2001
“Wednesday Group Exhibit,” Cocoa Beach Library, Fl 1999, 1998
“Wednesday Group Exhibit,” Henegar Center, Melbourne, Fl 1999
“Florida Biennial III,” Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Bellaire, Fl 1998
“Juried Artists Forum,” Brevard Museum of Art and Science, Melbourne, Fl 1998, 1997, 1995, 1992
“EXPTL Tensity,” La Maison Gallery, Melbourne, Fl 1998
“Gallery Exhibit,” Central Brevard Art Association, Cocoa, Fl 1996
“Wit and Wisdom,” Evans Library, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Fl 1996
“WFIT Art Showcase,” Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Fl 1996
“Holidays,” Dragon Point Gallery, Indian Harbour Beach, Fl 1995
“The Women’s Caucus for Art,” Juried Exhibition, Orlando, Fl 1995
“The Wednesday Group Exhibits,” Dragon Point Gallery, Indian Harbour Beach, Fl 1995
“Florida Watercolor Society 23rd Annual Exhibition,” DeLand, Fl 1994
“Threads,” Gurri Gallery, Indian Harbour Beach, Fl 1994
“George Plimpton All Star Space Coast Art Open,” Melbourne, Fl 1994
Albertson-Peterson Gallery, Inc.,” Winter Park, Fl 1993
“Portraits of Women,” ArtWorks Orlando, Orlando, Fl 1993
“Self Portraits & Other Work,” Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, Eau Gallie, Fl 1993
“Center for the Arts Juried Exhibition,” Vero Beach, Fl 1992
“Visual Expressions,” King Center for the Arts, Melbourne, Fl 1992

Collections:

Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo, Texas
Tsanko Lavrenov National Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Museum of Collage, Brittany, France
The Learning Connexion, Taita, New Zealand

Signature Member of the National Collage Society
Member of Ten Women in Art

Represented by Magasin in Aspen, CO