The paintings of Leslie Wu are rooted in emotional response to place, gleaned from memory, experience and observation. Her work reflects a deep inquiry into how landscape effects our psyche. The paintings are a visual autobiography of a sort, one that recalls generations of her central New York family that owned small farms and embraced the beauty of the land.

 

She is influenced by the subtle landscape paintings of the 19th century Luminists, who were focused on the effects of light and atmosphere, especially Sanford Gifford. John F. Kensett’s compositionally reduced paintings interest her as well as the understated solitary moments in Edward Hopper’s work.

 

A native of Syracuse, New York. She received her BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, with an emphasis in design. After working in advertising for 5 years as an Art Director she launched her painting career in 1983.

 

Wu has had one person and group exhibitions throughout the country from Nantucket to Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. Her work is held in numerous private and public collections such as the Rockford Museum, Rockford, IL, The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, NY, 4 Culture, King County Public Art,Seattle, WA.

     

Since 2006 Wu has resided in the Pacific Northwest and in 2011 moved to Vashon Island, WA where she lives and paints.