LEONARD HARMON FINE ART

“They say the truth is in the eye of the beholder... but who’s looking?”

~ Leonard Harmon

Leonard D. Harmon has always been drawn to a life of artistic expression. Leonard credits a large part of his passion to his “direct bloodline to art”. His father was a furniture maker, who used geometric designs and would finish each piece with a painted feather. His mother and grandmother did bead work, he also has a cousin who does quill work and his uncle and namesake Leonard Allen Harmon, was a well-known portrait artist featured in the Heard Museum of Arizona. Art in one form or another was always been present in his life. As a young man he was inspired by his grandparents love of cooking to attend Johnson & Wales University, one of the finest culinary schools in the country. Here he not only learned the fine art of creating culinary masterpieces but also began to explore his love of music. Eventually touring the country as a DJ, it wasn’t until 2010 that he began to explore a new form of expression, traditional and contemporary mixed media art.

As proud citizen of the Lenape Tribe of New Jersey and the Nanticoke Tribe of Delaware, Leonard currently resides on the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indian Reservation in Oregon. He frequently reflects on his travels to Connecticut and Oklahoma, where he attends Powwows and immerses himself in his rich cultural heritage. Deeply involved in tribal traditions on the Siletz Reservation, Leonard draws inspiration from his ancestors to infuse a modern twist into traditional arts. His work often utilizes older images to craft new narratives, offering fresh perspectives on history. As an emerging artist, he eagerly explores various methods and mediums, embracing each new style as a means of self-expression. His fearless approach to art allows him to continually push boundaries and discover where his creative mind will lead him next.

As a contemporary mixed-media artist Leonard explores a wide range of styles and mediums, from traditional native craft to fine art painting. Leonard has cultural pieces in the Camden Historical Society Museum, Toledo Museum of Art, Penn Treaty Museum, the Nanticoke Indian Museum and the Amsterdam Museum. He has also had recent shows around the United States and the Netherlands. Leonard has been thriving as a new Native American curator and has had two very powerful curated shows in Oregon and Ohio. Leonard’s unwavering dedication to both preserving and innovating within his cultural heritage not only enriches the art community but also inspires future generations of artists. As he continues to expand his influence as a artist and curator, Leonard is poised to further elevate indigenous voices and narratives on the global stage.