About Leon Sarantos

Event: Opening Reception For “Privates” Exhibit: Friday At Studio Oh! 4/13, 6-10

Dates: 11 Apr 2018 - 29 May 2018

You’re invited to the opening reception for our group exhibit, “Privates” on Friday, April 13th!
Come celebrate the new exhibition at Studio Oh! in Pilsen. Then explore 30+ creative spaces for 2nd Fridays Gallery Night in the Chicago Arts District.
When: The opening Reception is Friday evening, April 13th from 6 - 10 PM at Studio Oh! gallery, 1837 S. Halsted Street in Chicago. On display from April 10 until May 29th. Closing reception is on Friday, May 11, 2018 6-10 PM.
What: “Privates” is a group exhibit that explores the nude figure, both male and female in the traditional sense, but also in a new and unexpected way. Curated by Erwin Overes and Lisa Stefaniak at Studio Oh gallery. Many artists from metro Chicago are featured. Three of my figurative paintings are on display
Where: Studio Oh! is in Pilsen in the heart of the Chicago Arts District at
1837 S. Halsted Street, Chicago

Event: Perspective: In Depth

Dates: 6 Jul 2017 - 31 Aug 2017

OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY JULY 14 - If you will be in metro Chicago in July, you’re welcome to the opening reception for the “Perspective: In Depth” group exhibit at Studio Oh. It’s Friday, July 14, from 6 - 10 PM, and is on display from July 11 to August 31st. The closing reception is on Friday, August 11. Studio Oh is in Pilsen in the heart of the Chicago Arts District at 1837 S. Halsted Street, Chicago. Two of my cityscape paintings are on display: Coffee Shop, UChicago and Art Fair On Oliver Street.

This reception is part of 2nd Fridays Gallery Night in the Chicago Arts District. Monthly opening receptions take place at the galleries and artists' studios centered around South Halsted and 18th Streets in Chicago. 30+ creative spaces in the Chicago Arts District showcase an exciting display of art and artists from Chicago and beyond. This unique art community opens its doors, free of charge, and lets you get up close and personal with the

Event: Domicile: An Exhibition in the Glessner House Coach House

Dates: 14 Oct 2016 - 27 Nov 2016

The opening reception is this Friday, October 14, from 6 to 8 PM for Domicile: An Exhibition in the Glessner House Coach House, 1800 S. Prairie, Chicago. Entrance to the Coach House is on 18th Street, just west of Prairie Avenue, look for the big green door.
My UChicago architectural art is on display in this group show, including Botany Pond and Cobb Hall. The reception is free and open to the public. The Glessner House Museum will also be open during the exhibit. There is free parking available during the reception at 1863 S. Wabash Avenue.
You can also see the exhibit as part of Open House Chicago. Visit the Glessner House Museum on Saturday, Oct 15: 9am - 5pm & Sunday, Oct 16: 9am - 5pm.
The exhibit continues through Sunday November 27, 2016 (NOTE: The exhibit will be closed Sunday October 30 and Saturday November 5). Tour times for Glessner House and our exhibit are on Wednesday through Sunday at 11:30am, 1:00pm, and 2:30pm

Event: Insider Art

Dates: 22 Jun 2016 - 23 Jul 2016

Opening Reception for Insider Art: Union Street Gallery Saturday 6/25 2-6pm
You’re invited to our “Insider Art” members' exhibit at Union Street Gallery.
When: We hope you will join us for the Artists' Reception on the afternoon of Saturday, June 25, 2-6pm. Come and enjoy this exciting show! The exhibit continues until July 23.
Where: Union Street Gallery is located at 1527 Otto Blvd, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. Gallery hours: Wednesday and Thursday 12-5, Friday 12-6 Saturday 11-4. For more information about Union Street Gallery call 708-754-2601
My UChicago paintings, “Cobb Hall” and “Over The Top” are on display.
These paintings are inspired by the beauty of the Gothic Revival architecture in the Main Quadrangle, symbolizing the conservative traditions and stable framework of the university, contrasting with the life and vibrancy of the ever-changing student population, illustrated with their multiple electronic devices, backpacks, and diversity.

Event: 12” by 12” Art Showcase

Dates: 3 Dec 2015 - 20 Jan 2016

GACI Gallery Opening Reception, Friday 12/4, 5-8:00. This reception is free and open to the public. My photographs of the University of Chicago quadrangle are on display in this group exhibit. The exhibit continues until 1/20.
The 12” by 12” Art Showcase is in downtown Chicago. The gallery is directed by Miyeon Kwon and aims to feature the work of local and international artists. Gallery Hours: Tue - Sat 11 am to 7 pm and Sun 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. It is hosted by Prak-sis Contemporary Art Association.
My photography presents the traditional Gothic architecture at the University of Chicago using a contemporary approach. The architecture functions as a metaphor for the established framework and traditions of the university. My photos focus on architectural gems like Bond Chapel and Cobb Hall and feature Gothic details, such as gargoyles, tracery and turrets.

Event: GACI Gallery Inaugural Exhibit

Dates: 25 Sep 2015 - 19 Oct 2015

The is the inaugural exhibit for GACI Gallery, which is a new gallery in downtown Chicago. The gallery is directed by Miyeon Kwon and aims to feature the work of local and international artists. It is located.at 6 W. Ontario Street in Chicago. It is just above the Redhead Piano Bar and about two blocks west of the “Magnificent Mile,” Michigan Avenue, in the River North area of downtown Chicago.
The opening reception for this group art show is this Friday, 10/2, 5-8:30. It is free and open to the public. My abstract paintings from my network series are on display until Oct 19.
Gallery hours: Tue - Sat 11 am to 7 pm and Sun 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. It is hosted by Prak-sis Contemporary Art Association

Event: ColorPlay

Dates: 28 May 2015 - 19 Jun 2015

Bold lines interlacing the excitement of color… Many of my oil paintings are on display. I use color as a driving force to create art that is recognizable to the viewer, yet abstracted from a literal representation. My art explores the interplay between abstraction and realism across genres such as portrait, still life and cityscape paintings.

Bernard Gallery is part of Calumet College of St. Joseph, which is a private institution of higher learning located at 2400 New York Avenue in Whiting, Indiana. Currently serving approximately 1,300 students, the college has provided access to education for students of the Calumet Region since 1951 and offers Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. The curator of the Bernard Gallery, Martin Martinez, is on faculty in the Digital and Studio Arts program.

http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/calumet-college-art-exhibit-features-bold-colors/article_1043d f04-5d8c-5c13-93b5-1a732bfee44d.html

Event: OUTLOOKS AND INSIGHTS

Dates: 1 May 2015 - 6 Jun 2015

I am very pleased to be displaying my figurative art at the “Outlooks and Insights” exhibit at Tall Grass Gallery. The opening reception is this Friday, May 1st from 7 - 9 PM. The exhibit continues until June 6.

OUTLOOKS AND INSIGHTS, the Tall Grass Arts Association's new exhibit, presents works by twenty-nine of the artists currently included in Union Street Gallery's Studio or Guild groups. The show offers an overview of the creative efforts of these well-known regional artists. Curated by Claudia Craemer.

The paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, sculpture and mixed media works that are included in OUTLOOKS AND INSIGHTS represent some of the current directions Union Street artists are pursuing – from very literal or expressive observations of nature, people, animals, and objects, to personal interpretations of memories, dreams, states of mind, conflicts, puzzles and solutions, the inner visions that inspire symbolic or purely abstract responses to media and intuition.

Where: Tall Grass Gallery is located in the Downtown Park Forest Cultural Center at 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest, IL 60466. Tall Grass is a non-profit arts association serving the southern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Hours: Tues- Sat: 11:00 - 4:00 PM, Sun and Mon: Closed. Phone: 708.748.3377

Event: Indigenous Landscapes: Imprints of the South Shore

Dates: 9 Feb 2015 - 19 Mar 2015

My art is in the regional, juried exhibit, Indigenous Landscapes: Imprints of the South Shore. The exhibit celebrates nature along the shores of Lake Michigan in settings that remain undisturbed since the times of the indigenous people of the area. It is jointly sponsored by the Center for Arts and Culture at the University of Notre Dame, White Ripple Gallery, and the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. Jurors include: David Detmer, Jocelyn J. Prue, Ruth Crnkovich, Alex Schaufele and Ann Fritz. I am so pleased that my painting won an Honorable Mention Award. My painting, Winter Woods, was among six artworks to receive an award, with over 100 artworks on display.

The exhibit is at the W.F. Wellman Exhibit Hall at the Indiana Welcome Center. The Indiana Welcome Center is located just South of the intersection of I-80/94 and Kennedy Avenue South in Hammond, Indiana at 7770 Corinne Drive. The exhibit continues until March 19.

Event: “Who’s Afraid Of Red”

Dates: 12 Dec 2014 - 18 Jan 2015

The opening reception for the “Who’s Afraid Of Red” exhibit at Studio Oh is this Friday, December 12, from 6 - 10 PM. Studio Oh is in Pilsen in the heart of the Chicago Arts District at 1837 S. Halsted Street, Chicago. Twenty-five artists from metro Chicago are participating. Two of my artworks, Preacher Man and Young Lady With Long Pipe are in this exhibit, which is curated by Pam Hamilton. This reception is part of 2nd Fridays Gallery Night in the Chicago Arts District. The art is on display until Sunday, January 18th.

Event: The Abstract Show III

Dates: 14 Oct 2014 - 22 Nov 2014

The third annual abstract exhibit: The Abstract Show III, is at Brickton Art Center. With Darrell Roberts as juror this year, I’m looking forward to quite a show. Darrell is a noted, contemporary abstract expressionist. With over 100 artists applying from five states, I am very pleased that my art was selected. Three paintings from my “Networks” series are in the exhibit. The opening reception is on Saturday, October 18 from 4 PM to 7 PM. The art is on display from October 14 - November 22.

Event: The Hyde Park Connection

Dates: 5 Jul 2014 - 5 Sep 2014

A unique exhibition featuring the Studio 4 artists opens at CornerStone Art Gallery in Whiting, Indiana for a two-month show this summer. Studio 4 is a group of artists associated with the esteemed Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. The exhibit will be on view in July and August, with an opening reception on Friday evening, July 11.

Event: Minute Musings, Regional Juried Exhibit

Dates: 20 Apr 2014 - 10 May 2014

Minute Musings is a Midwest, regional juried exhibit at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Jurors: Jessica Segal, Gallery Director, and Madeline Henry, Union Street Gallery Studio Artist. Artists from all over the Midwest entered over 250 artworks, and 69 were accepted. My abstract painting, “Jumping Jack,” is on display.

Event: South Lake Artists Group Show

Dates: 9 Nov 2013 - 1 Feb 2014

The South Lake Artist's Co-op 4TH Anniversary Group Show at Paul Henry’s Art Gallery will features art by 25 Midwest artists, with artists creating live in the gallery, music and a potluck. One of my abstract paintings from my Networks series was created live during the opening reception.

Event: Artistic License 2013, National juried exhibit.

Dates: 8 Nov 2013 - 30 Nov 2013

Second year for this national juried exhibit. Indiana artist and art professor, Lou Shields, was this year’s juror. Regional artists from the Midwest are displaying their art. I was pleased to receive 3rd prize for my portrait, Preacher Man. My UChicago painting, C-Shop, Coffee Shop at University of Chicago, was also selected for display.

Event: Networks: Solo Exhibit

Dates: 7 Oct 2013 - 15 Nov 2013

Leon describes his new abstract art which explores the theme of networks. “In this series, I use painted networks to create a single result from its many individual lines. Just as a social network of thousands and thousands of individuals creates a phenomena, such as making Justin Bieber an instant star, or stirring an outpouring of money to fight hunger in Bangladesh, or fomenting a revolution in Tunisia, I use a network of random lines that all join together to create an unexpected result, or in my case, a surprise image. I start by applying swatches of color to the canvas in a random but controlled composition. Then, using a single color, I start outlining these swatches. Eventually, a figure or scene starts to emerge as the lines are laid in, just as a social network starts to take on a life of its own to create its final phenomena. Like reading a Rorschach inkblot, my subconscious offers up a recognizable shape or scene from the materializing network.

Event: Fluidity, Regional, juried exhibit.

Dates: 9 Aug 2013 - 7 Sep 2013

Fluidity was a regional, juried exhibit that included 30 works of art by 29 talented artists from the Midwest region. I was pleased that my painting, Female Nudes, was accepted.

Event: Insider Art

Dates: 21 Jul 2013 - 20 Jul 2013

Insider Art Exhibit. Each year Union Street Gallery hosts a group exhibit featuring recent work by our studio and guild artists. I was recently accepted as a guild artist, and was pleased to display my paintings, Botany Pond and Dawn Twilight.

Event: Ordinary Things: Regional, juried exhibit.

Dates: 7 Jun 2013 - 6 Jul 2013

In this regional juried exhibit, the art reminds us that what is ordinary in one life might not be ordinary in another. The exhibit was curated by Dawn Diamantopoulos, a graduate of Pratt Institute. My painting, Apples, Grapes and Vases on Blue Cloth, was selected for display.

Event: Mad World: National, juried exhibit.

Dates: 8 Mar 2013 - 6 Apr 2013

In this national juried exhibit, only 60 artworks from among 271 were selected by juror Natalie Domchenko (Director: Peter Miller Gallery, Chicago). I’m very pleased that my all three of my “Organic Creatures” abstract paintings were selected for display.

Event: Artistic License 2012

Dates: 2 Nov 2012 - 1 Dec 2012

This exhibit was juried by Michael Kaysen of SideCar Gallery, who chose art for awards. Michael Kaysen is also a Museum Specialist at the Art Institute of Chicago. I was honored to receive awards for both my still life painting, Sunflowers In Vase, and my abstract, figurative art, Intimate Partners.

Event: A Love Affair With Colors: Solo Exhibit

Dates: 6 Oct 2012 - 16 Nov 2012

Leon Sarantos displayed his art at CornerStone Art Gallery in 2012. His art explores the interplay between abstraction and realism across genres such as figurative art, still life and cityscape paintings. The exhibit included both oil paintings and digital art photographs.

Event: ArtConneKt International Exhibit

Dates: 1 Oct 2012 - 14 Oct 2012

Group art exhibit by the ArtConneKt international artists’ collective. My digital art cityscapes were on display. Curated by Owen Martin.

Event: 69th Annual Salon Show: Regional, juried exhibit.

Dates: 16 Sep 2012 - 28 Oct 2012

Leon Sarantos was honored to have his art selected for this regional, juried exhibit by juror, Daniel Schulman. Mr Schulman is with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, and has over 25 years of curatorial experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. Only 42 out of 127 artists were selected.

Event: South Side Impressions

Dates: 1 Mar 2012 - 31 Mar 2012

South Side Impressions is an annual, curated exhibit that showcases the diverse world of the South Side of Chicago. My painting, C-Shop, Coffee Shop at University of Chicago, was selected by Carla Winterbottom, curator and gallery director, Beverly Arts Center.

Event: Real People: National, juried exhibit

Dates: 21 Aug 2011 - 25 Sep 2011

National juried exhibit, with Dan Addington as juror (owner and director of Addington Gallery in downtown Chicago). I was honored to have my figurative painting, Youthful Thoughts, selected for this exhibit. The painting portrays a very restful young person who seemed completely at ease and deep in thought. I used a strong contrast of light and dark, to the point that the painting combines abstract and representational art.

Event: Value Volume Variety

Dates: 2 May 2011 - 1 Jul 2011

Regional juried exhibit, with Robert Stanley as juror. I was pleased to receive the Best of Show award for my abstract. still-life painting, Still Life With Mannequin Hand.