Leonard Mizerek

LEONARD MIZEREK Fellow, ASMA, nurtured his artistic love of nature while growing up and painting in the Brandywine Valley and countryside of nearby Pennsylvania. His early influence was with the Pennsylvania Impressionists and Brandywine School. Best known for his seascapes, Leonard paints both New England coastal scenes as well as harbors throughout the world. He also enjoys painting cityscapes, night scenes and cafes.
He has participated in several invitational Plein Air events including Mystic, Cape Ann, Annapolis, and 11 years in Easton Md. He was featured painting live on TV France3 during a major antique boat festival
His painting was recently purchased by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. In 2006, 2011 and 2016 he was awarded Artist in Residence at the Museum Yvonne Jean-Haffen in Dinan, France and three of his paintings were made part of the museum collection. He was one of 15 artists selected to paint at the Forbes Colorado Ranch and exhibited at the Forbes Museum in New York and made part of the permanent collection. He exhibited with 23 nationally recognized marine artists at, the Newport Art Museum, Maine Maritime Museum and Connecticut River Museum.He was featured on the cover of American Artist Magazine. He was featured in recent issues this year of magazines: American Art Collector Magazine June and July, American Art Review February, Sea History March, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine and Fine Art Today.
Celebrated for his colorful, luminous seascapes and expressive brushwork, Leonard paints on site deriving inspiration from the many nearby coastal locations as well as harbors throughout the world. A central theme throughout Leonard’s work is his use of light. In Mizerek’s words, “Light alters the color of all objects and touches those nearby. It sets a mood and evokes emotion, which I strive to portray in my work. I often explore various methods to interpret the way I view nature. I prefer marine subjects because I enjoy the way water reflects the floating objects, as well as the sky and time of day. It mirrors shapes and intensifies light. I paint outdoors to capture the light first hand and bring out all its color and luminosity."
Leonard was awarded the Salzman Award for Excellence in Painting in the 112th Annual Exhibiting Artist Members’ Exhibition of the National Arts Club in New York City. He received the Iron Man Award from the American Society of Marine Artists for distinguished achievement and a Merit Award at the Coos Art Museum in the state of Washington. In 2020 he won 2nd Place Plein Air in OPA Wet Paint Competition and Salmagundis 2020 Open Exhibition Seascape award.
Past exhibitions have included over 50 Featured Artist and Solo Shows including The American Society of Marine Artists Exhibitions at the Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Chase Riverfront Arts Center, Wilmington, DE, the Delaware Art Museum, The Frye Museum of Art, Seattle, WA, The Mariner’s Museum, Norfolk, VA, The Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL, San Diego Maritime Museum, and the Mystic Seaport Museum. He has exhibited in the Annual Mystic International and Modern Marine Masters Exhibitions since 1988 and two exhibitions at the National Academy of Design in New York. He graduated with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and studied at The New York Art Students League with Max Ginsburg and Nelson Shanks and at the National Academy of Design with Raymond Kinstler. Leonard is an Officer and one of 27 Fellows of the American Society of Marine Artists and one of 70 elected members of the prestigious Guild of Boston Artists. He is a member of the New England Plein Air Painters, Signature Artist Member of the New England Watercolor Society, and the International Society of Marine Painters.
Leonard was selected for Painting Ships, Shores, & the Sea, a book showcasing America’s top marine artists by North Light Books. He was chosen as a finalist in The Artist Magazine’s Competition. He was included in several magazine articles in Maine Boats & Harbors, Sea History, Marine Art Quarterly, American Artist Magazine, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Review, Soundings, andWatercolor Magazine. Len is also featured in the book, Splash 3, as well as Gallery of Marine Art, Rockport Publishers & Bound for Blue Water by Greenwich Workshop Press and Best of Worldwide Landscape.
EXHIBITIONS
Marine Masters 3 Artist Show, JM Stringer, Vero Beach, FL Jan 2021
Nat’l Maritime Historical Society, D.C. Invitational 2018,19, 20
Rockport Art Association & Museum 2020 Nat’l Show
Cape Ann Plein Air Juried Event, Mass 2020, 2021
Solo Show - JM Stringer Gallery Vero Beach, FlL2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
Guild of Boston Artists Annual Members Exhibit, 04 thru 20
Plein Air Easton Juried, Easton, MD July 09 thru 2019
Mystic International, Mystic, CT 1988 thru 2019
Modern Marine Masters Exhibition, Mystic, CT ’95 thru 2019
Solo Show - Shaw Gallery, Naples, FL, 04, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
National Arts Club Exhibiting Artists Annual 2009 thru 2020
Guild of Boston Artists Two Man Show, April 2018
ASMA 18th Nat’l Exhibition to 4 museums 2019-2021
ASMA 17th Nat’l Exhibition to 5 museums 2016-2018
ASMA 2016 Exhibition Minnesota Marine Art Museum
OPA Eastern Regional 2013/2020, 2016/2018 Salon Show
ASMA Invitational 2018 Principle Gallery, Charleston
Solo Show - JM Stringer Gallery, Bernardsville, NJ 2011, 12, 13, 14, 15
Artist in Residence, Musee-Yvonne-Jean Haffen, France 06, 11, 16
Marine Paintings Exhibition, Newman Gallery, PA 05, 06, 07, 09, 10
National Academy of Design Annual Exhibition 92/94
France TV 3 - Live painting performance - July 09
National Arts Club, 2000Roundtable Exhibition April 09 thru 2015
Wet Paint 2000-2019, Mystic Seaport Gallery, Mystic, CT
American Impressionist Society Annual 2013, Charleston, SC
Solo Show - Admiralty Gallery, Vero Beach, FL 1999-2011
Two Artist Show, JM Stringer Gallery, NJ 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10
New York Yacht Club Exhibition, Newport, RI 2009, 10, 11, 12
ASMA 16th Nat’l Exhibition Online
ASMA 15th National Exhibition to 8 Museums 2011-2013
ASMA- 30th Anniv. Exhibition- traveling to 5 museums 2008-09
ASMA- Regional Exhibition-traveling to 3 museums May 08
Krasl Museum Great Lakes Exhibition, MI, June 07
ISMP Ventura County Maritime Museum, CA Feb 06
ASMA Cold Spring Harbor Museum, NY April 06
Coos Bay Museum of Fine Art, July 04, 06, 07
ASMA 12th Nat’l Exhibition,Cape Museum Fine Arts, MA, Del Museum
ASMA 13th Natl. Exhibition,Vero Beach Museum of Art, 04
ASMA Exhibition, Cape Museum of Fine Arts 04
The Everlasting Sea: Marine Artist Past & Present - 23 artists Invitational, Newport Museum of Art, RI, Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, ME, CT River Museum, Essex, CT 2003-04
One Man Show- Premier Etage Gallery, Newport, RI
ASMA 11th Nat’l. Exhibition,
ASMA 10th Nat’l. Exhibition, Mystic Seaport Museum, CT 92
Forbes Museum Invitational, New York City
ASMA Frye Museum, Seattle, WA-Cummer Museum, FL 97
ASMA - San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego, CA 95
IInt’l Society of Marine Painters Annual 1991-2008
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Bell Helicopter, Griswold, Encore Bank,AmericanYachtClub,Tauck Tours, Lexmark Int’l,Deloitte Touche,Forge Oak Farms KY
Vanderbilt Home Furnishings, Berwind, Fedex
National Maritime Historical Society Chairman
Barclay Intercontinental Penthouse NYC
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Forbes Museum, NY, NY
Museum Yvonne-Jean Haffen, Dinan, France
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
AWARDS
Salmagundi 2020 Open Exhibition Seascape Award
OPA Wet Paint Competition 2020- Plein Air 2nd Place
National Arts Club - Award for Excellence in Painting 2011
National Arts Club Online Show - People’s Choice Award - 2009
Plein Air Easton Quick Draw - 2nd Place 09, Honorable 2015
Paint Annapolis - Hon. Mention Dueling Brushes - 2009
ASMA Ironman Award 2008 /Coos Bay Museum Merit Award 06
Sea Heritage Marine Art Exhibition, New York/First Place
Artitudes International Competition / Certificate of Excellence Delaware Art Center Scholarship Award, Wilmington, DE
Artist Invitational, Forbes Ranch, CO
Artist’s Magazine 95 , 97, 2000, 02 Competition Finalist
Virginia Commonwealth University, Graduate Art Award
Northeast Watercolor Society / Napa Honor Award
MEMBERSHIP
The National Arts Club- Exhibiting Artist Member
The Guild of Boston Artists, Elected Artist Member
American Society of Marine Artists, Fellow, Board Member
American Impressionist Society
Oil Painters of America Associate
International Society of Marine Painters, Artist Member
New England Watercolor Society, Signature Artist Member
NorthEast Watercolor Society, Signature Artist Member
EDUCATION
Art Student’s League, New York, NY
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA /BFA
National Academy of Design, New York, NY
PUBLICATIONS
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine - 1/07, 10/07, 5/08, 6/13, 7/16, 1/18
Marine Art Quarterly - 01, 05, 08, 09, 10