Leon Collins Paintings
American, b. 1930
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown Leon Collins (Texas Artist)
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown “The inspiration comes from my great, great grandmother...the will comes from God.”
Leon Collins was born in Galveston. At the age of four, he was sent to live with relatives in Baton Rouge. At eight he moved to Beverly Hills, California to live with his mother. Each summer he was sent to Brazoria, Texas to stay with his great-great-grandmother, “Big Mama.”
“Big Mama,” who lived to be 114, told him stories which he recorded in his Big Chief notebook. When Leon’s mother passed away, Leon moved from California to Texas where his mother’s sister lived.
“If God gives me my sight back, I’m going to start painting again.”
For two years Leon’s daughter Molly Bee was his caretaker when he was afflicted by brain cancer in 2005. In 2007, his sight returned. He kept his promise to God.
Before returning to his art, Leon spent time as a picker of antiques. One antique store saw some of Molly Bee’s paintings and quickly sold them at his shop. Both Leon and Molly Bee were quickly in the art business. Word of their “folk” art quickly spread. Their paintings hang from coast to coast. Recently Rice University recognized their art with the exhibit "The Color of Life."
Of his artwork, Leon Collins said: "Ninety percent of my work comes from God and Big Mama.”
Leon’s and Molly Bee’s Updates: Leon and Molly Bee Collins have exhibited at the Main St. Fort Worth Arts festival.
That opening is special for two reasons. This was a father / daughter exhibition, and this is their first show in an art gallery. The Texas artist’s work is from their hearts and imaginations. Neither is trained as an artist, instead their paintings are "recollections” of stories, events, places, characters and ideas brought to life in brilliant color. Information for the Festival read: "Leon’s need to paint came about because of an “unusual life situation. "One morning Leon lost the ability to speak and his sight. For two years he lived in darkness and fear. He never lost his faith though. Miraculously both returned at the same time. It was at that moment he decided to paint “to keep the darkness away.” His daughter, Molly Bee, encouraged him to paint his poetry and that is why she is the light of his life.
Molly Bee acquired her nickname at the age of two. Named after Leon’s great-great grandmother’s sister, the first Molly Bee lived to be 119 and died in 1970. Her first memory was of seeing her parents chained together at a slave auction. She lived a rich, full life that she shared with Leon. It was these stories that Molly Bee began to paint in her own style at the age of nine. Source:
"Leon Collins," Old Art Guy,
______
Leon Collins does a kind of folky-edgy/borderline unsettling art and cannot keep his work in stock.to
2
17
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
4
15
1
11
14
5
14
14
9
6
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
19
14
5
5
19
780
718
711
687
2
18
19
Artist: Leon Collins
"CHURCH" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ARTIST
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
2024
"Church"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas...
Category
20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"TARNADO COMING" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ART FRAMED 12 X 29.5
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
(Born 1930)
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 11 x 28.5
Frame Size: 12 x 29.5
Medium: Oil on Board
2024
"Tarnado Coming"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown Died ...
Category
2010s Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"HUNTING DOG" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ART FRAMED 24 X 36
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
(Born 1930)
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 23 x 35
Frame Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Oil on Board
"Hunting Dog"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"MOTHER AND DAUGHTER" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ART FRAMED 38 x 26 AFRICAN AMERICAN
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
(Born 1930)
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 38 x 26
Medium: Oil on Canvas
"Mother and Daughter"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas A...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"THE GUITARIST" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ARTIST
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
(Born 1930)
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Oil on Canvas
"The Guitarist"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
...
Category
20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"BULL AND BIRD" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Bull and Bird"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"The inspiration comes f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"MISSION IN TEXAS" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 22 x 34
Frame Size: Unframed
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Dated 2025
"Mission in Texas"
Leon Collins Birthda...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"WOMAN AND CHILD" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ARTIST
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
2024
"Woman and Child"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"The inspiration ...
Category
20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"ALAMO" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Alamo"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"The inspiration comes from my g...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"GOLFING" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Golfing"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"The inspiration comes from my...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"WILD DOG" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Wild Dog"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"The inspiration comes from m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"The Alamo" #2. Black Folk Artist Leon Collins. (Deceased 2025) Texas Artist
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Oil on Canvas
"The Alamo" #2
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown-Died 2025
"The ins...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"New Mexico" Leon Collins. Black Texas Folk Artist (Deceased 2025)
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"New Mexico" Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown-Died 2025
"The inspir...
Category
2010s Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"First American" Native Indian Black Folk Artist Leon Collins died 2025
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"First American" Native American Indian
Leon Collins
Birthda...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Blue Bull" Painted by Black Texas Folk Artist Leon Collins deceased 2025
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 24 x 36
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Blue Bull"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown-Died 2025
"The in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Sunflowers" After Van Gogh Black Texas Folk Artist Leon Collins deceased 2025
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Acrylic on Giclee
"Sunflowers" After Van Gogh
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown-D...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Austin, Texas" UT Tower University of Texas. Black Folk Artist Leon Collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Austin, Texas" UT Tower
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown-Died...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"The Guitarist" by Leon Collins Black Texas Folk Artist deceased 2025
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown, died 2025
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Oil on Canvas
"The Guitarist"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown-Died 2025
"The in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"Mamas Shock" African American Black Folk Artist LEON COLLINS OF TEXAS
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Born Galveston Texas Artist
Image Size: 28 x 21.75
Medium: Oil "Mama's Shock"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Te...
Category
1970s Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
Related Items
Impressionist Parisian Street Scene in Autumn contemporary
By Antoine Blanchard
Located in Hillsborough, NC
Beautifully painted, this is a contemporary work in the style of French impressionist artist Antoine Blanchard. In rich impasto brushstokes, the Parisian cityscape shows the vitality...
Category
20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$703 Sale Price
20% Off
H 15.75 in W 11.5 in D 2.25 in
Summer Day on the West Coast of Sweden by Swedish Impressionist Alfred Wahlberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
Alfred Wahlberg was a distinguished Swedish landscape painter whose career spanned Germany, France, and Sweden. During his early years, he resided in D...
Category
Late 19th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$2,687 Sale Price
20% Off
H 21.26 in W 32.68 in
Italian Landscape - British 19thC art Impressionist oil painting female artist
By Susan Isabel Dacre
Located in Hagley, England
This Italian landscape is an oil on canvas, framed behind glass in its original gallery frame, by Susan Isabel Dacre. A superb painting, painted circa 1888. Dacre was an early member of the Feminist movement and a member of the Manchester arts community. She travelled with Lord Leighton and exhibited widely. This work shows influences of early British impressionism. The painting depicts an Italian landscape with a road sweeping around a hill with dwellings and trees. The brushwork and palette are superb. An excellent example of a 19th century women artists work.
Signed lower left.
Provenance. Family collection.
Condition. Oil on canvas. Image size 13 inches by 10 inches. canvas in original excellent condition.
Housed in an original gilt frame 20 inches by 17 inches approx. and in good condition.
Susan Isabel Dacre (1844 – 1933) was an English female artist of the Victorian era. She was born in Leamington, Warwickshire, and was educated in Salford. For the decade of 1858–68 she lived in Paris. After a winter in Italy (1869), she returned to Paris, and was present during the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. She returned to England in 1871 and began studying art at the Manchester School of Art, where she won the Queen's Prize in 1875. She began a lifelong friendship with fellow artist Annie Swynnerton; the two women pursued their art studies in Rome and Paris between 1874 and 1880. Around 1872, Lord Leighton dictated notes and observations on his methods of painting and composing his pictures to Susan Dacre during a stay on the island of Capri. From 1877-1880 she was in Paris at the Académie Julian with a fellow - pupil Marie Bashkirtseff...
Category
19th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
$4,955 Sale Price
20% Off
H 17 in W 20 in D 2 in
Mid Century Signed Landscape -- Old Country Cottage with Chickens
Located in Soquel, CA
Charming mid century country landscape with cottage with thatched roof and chickens foraging. Signed "H. H." and dated "1955." Condition: good; some edge and corner wear consistent w...
Category
1950s American Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
$600 Sale Price
20% Off
H 15.75 in W 0.33 in D 21.75 in
French Impressionist Oil Painting Provence Tall Tree Pathway
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below
provenance stamp to the back
oil painting on board, unframed
measures: 16.75 high by 10.75 inches wide
condition: overall very g...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
$819
H 16.75 in W 10.75 in
Dreamy French Impressionist View from Window over Green Garden Landscape oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French Impressionist early 1900's, most likely an unfinished sketch hence not signed.
Title: Dreamy garden view, looking out of the window over a deep green and vib...
Category
Early 20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
"Sunny Day" Edward Dufner, American, Impressionist Clouds, Light Blue Sky
By Edward Dufner
Located in New York, NY
Edward Dufner
Sunny Day
Signed lower right
Oil on board
8 x 10 inches
With a long-time career as an art teacher and painter of both 'light' and 'dark', Edward Dufner was one of the...
Category
1910s American Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
“North African Man, c. 1916-21” by Caleb Arnold Slade, American Portrait Oil
By Caleb Arnold Slade
Located in Yardley, PA
“North African Man, c. 1916-21” by Caleb Arnold Slade (American, 1882-1961)
Inspired by Slade’s travels in Algeria and Tunisia, this remarkable portrait depicts a young man standing...
Category
Early 20th Century American Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$9,500
H 47.5 in W 40.25 in D 1.5 in
"Reading in the Study" Impressionist Portrait Oil Painting Woman in Pink Dress
Located in New York, NY
An Early 20th Century elegant portrait oil painting by Gordon Stevenson depicting a pensive young woman seated in a serene, indoor setting wearing a l...
Category
1910s American Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Gordon Stevenson"Reading in the Study" Impressionist Portrait Oil Painting Woman in Pink Dress, 1917
$35,000
H 60 in W 36 in D 3 in
OLD MASTER Signed L S Lowry " Bridge Street Road " Oil Painting 20th Century GGF
By Laurence Stephen Lowry
Located in Ferndown, GB
OLD MASTER Signed L S LOWRY OIL PAINTING 20th CENTURY
NEW COLLECTION Of RARE PIECES OF OLD HISTORY
Here we have a unique and rare piece of Art signed
Goo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
$3,647
H 28 in W 24 in
Contemporary impressionist fruit oil painting "Summer figs from the garden"
Located in VÉNISSIEUX, FR
Summer Figs from the Garden — Original 2023 Oil Painting on Paper by Natalya Mougenot
Size: 29.7 × 21 cm (approx. 11.7 × 8.3 in)
Medium: Oil paints on professional heavyweight paper
...
Category
2010s Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Paper, Oil
$216
H 11.7 in W 8.27 in D 0.04 in
"Seascape" Henry Ward Ranger, Impressionist Coastal Scene, Atmospheric Sky
By Henry Ward Ranger
Located in New York, NY
Henry Ward Ranger
Seascape, circa 1905
Estate stamp lower right
Oil on academy board
11 1/4 x 13 7/8 inches
A key person in the establishment of the Old Lyme, Connecticut art colon...
Category
Early 1900s American Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Previously Available Items
"VISION IN MY MIND BIG MAMA" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon collins
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Unframed.
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
"Vision in my Mind Big Mama"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
"BAYOU BEND" BLACK FOLK ARTIST Leon Collins Ima Hogg. Houston Texas
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 24 x 36
Frame Size: 29 x 41
Medium: Acrylic
"Bayou Bend"
Leon Collins Birthdate Unknown
"The inspiration ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
H 24 in W 36 in D 3 in
"SIGN OF PEACE" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ARTIST PEACH PIPE
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
2024
"Sign of Peace"
Leon Collins
Birthdate Unknown
Galveston / Navasot...
Category
20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"THE MUSICIAN" BLACK FOLK ART
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
(Born 1930)
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 36 x 24
Medium: Oil on Canvas
"The Musician"
Category
20th Century Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"WILD DREAM" TEXAS BLACK FOLK ART FRAMED 70.25 X 50.25
By Leon Collins
Located in San Antonio, TX
Leon Collins
(Born 1930)
Galveston / Navasota Texas Artist
Image Size: 64 x 44
Frame Size: 70.25 x 50.25
Medium: Oil on Wood Panel
"Wild Dream"
*Painting has crackular throughout
Leo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Oil
"TRe089 BigRD" Black and Multicolor Painting of Four Women with Baskets
By Leon Collins
Located in Houston, TX
The painting incorporates a colorful abstract depiction of four women with baskets on their heads on a black canvas background. Each woman is adorned in multicolored clothing that reveals each of the artist's brushstrokes. Signed and titled by the artist on the back of the canvas and is in good condition.
Artist Biography:
Leon Collins was born in Galveston. At the age of four, he was sent to live with relatives in Baton Rouge. At eight he moved to Beverly Hills, California to live with his mother. Each summer he was sent to Brazoria, Texas to stay with his great-great-grandmother, “Big Mama.”
“Big Mama,” who lived to be 114, told him stories which he recorded in his Big Chief notebook. When Leon’s mother passed away, Leon moved from California to Navasota, Texas where his mother’s sister lived.
“If God gives me my sight back, I’m going to start painting again.”
For two years Leon’s daughter Molly Bee was his caretaker when he was afflicted by brain cancer...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Leon Collins Paintings
Materials
Acrylic
H 48 in W 60 in D 1.5 in
Leon Collins paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Leon Collins paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Leon Collins in oil paint, paint and more. Not every interior allows for large Leon Collins paintings, so small editions measuring 22 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Johnny Banks, Robert Sellers, and Therese James. Leon Collins paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,400 and tops out at $1,400, while the average work can sell for $1,400.









