Lesley Anne Spowart

"The Traveler" by Lesley A. Spowart - Neo-Expressionist Painting in Pastel Tones

2024

Lesley Anne Spowart, originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, blends a rich background in Art History with a vibrant multi-media art practice. After earning her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1979, she deepened her expertise in Art History and Museum Studies through graduate studies at UC Davis, UC Riverside, and Cal State Fullerton. Her academic journey, enriched by experiences installing works by artists like Viola Frey and John Buck, strongly influences her creative output. Now based in Monterey, California, Lesley’s art is characterized by its diverse use of materials such as beeswax, tar, and photographic xerography, combined with a profound grasp of color dynamics. Her studio, a converted wine cellar, inspires her transformational pieces that often incorporate large formats and a tactile engagement with surfaces. Lesley’s works are featured in solo and group shows across the Monterey Peninsula and reside in collections both domestically and internationally, reflecting her significant impact on the contemporary art scene. She is a colorist, so color choice is integral in her presentation. Her art expresses her vision through the utilization of these numerous media: “I have employed numerous processes and mediums…I enjoy mixing things up just to see what happens. Color choice is integral in my presentation; I happen to love color and enjoy experimenting and manipulating possibilities in my printmaking and assemblages.” Lesley has shown her work in galleries on the Monterey Peninsula in solo and group shows. Among these are Gallery Mar, Carmel; American Art Gallery, Carmel; and Marjorie Evans Gallery, Carmel. Her work is found in corporate and private collections both here and abroad. She resides in Monterey, California where she and her husband have raised 3 children.