Mary Leslie

Biography

Mary Leslie’s artistic journey is a tale of rediscovery and passion. Alongside her husband Richard and a lively bunch of horses, donkeys and dogs, Mary’s charming ranch serves as both her abode and her inspiration.

Mary’s art paints a vivid picture of her deep-rooted affection for the untamed beauty of the West and its inhabitants. Her larger-than-life paintings are a heartfelt tribute to the animals and landscapes that have captured her heart and guided her life’s course.

After a short-lived venture at the Savannah College of Art and Design to study graphic design, Mary quickly decided this was not her path and began her artistic voyage with a modest mural for a family member, Mary’s talents soon flourished over two decades, as her murals adorned walls across the South and beyond. Yet, the yearning for greater and more personal artistic expression led her to the world of fine art, where she now finds her creative haven.

Mary’s connection with animals and wildlife emanates from a lifelong love and reverence for the creatures that share our world. With every brushstroke, she skillfully captures the unspoken emotions of animals, encouraging viewers to ponder the stories that unfold within a horse’s gaze, a fox’s demeanor, or a bear’s contemplative pause.

Mary Leslie’s artistic journey is a testament to the power of passion and the beauty of nature’s wonders, encapsulating the essence of the west and the creatures that inhabit it.

As a recent transplant to the West, Mary has of late discovered the unmatched beauty of the desert and the quirky wildlife that call it home. With a self-proclaimed tendency to anthropomorphism, Mary’s work is a conversation between artist and subject as she imagines their day and interactions with the surrounding creatures and flora of the desert.

Mary’s husband also plays an important role in her art as he builds many of her oversized stretchers and each piece is uniquely wrapped in a custom frame which he crafts from reclaimed wood.

Mary’s artistic achievements have garnered well-deserved recognition, earning her awards in various art events and exhibitions. Publications like Lake Oconee Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, and even the cover of Natural Awakenings Magazine have celebrated her exceptional work. Notably, her creations have even graced the screens of popular TV shows like HGTV and The Vampire Diaries.

RECENT EXHIBITIONS
2024 Women’s Work, AR Mitchell Museum, Trinidad Colorado
2024 Cowgirl Up! Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg Arizona
2024 Out West Art Show and Sale Great Falls, Montana
2024 Charlies March Roundup C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls Montana
2023 Charlies March Roundup C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls Montana
2023 Cowgirl Gathering Fort Worth Stockyards.
2022 Valley Visions, group show, Salida Steam Plant, Salida, CO
2022 Harvest Show, Beckwith Ranch, Westcliffe, CO
2022 Group show benefitting “ORG”, Third Street Gallery, Westcliffe, CO

Artwork to be Showcased