Leigh Behnke

I am a painter. I have been working and exhibiting my work nationally and occasionally internationally since my first solo show at the Fischbach Gallery in 1978.

Recognition

My work is represented in the United States by the Fischbach Gallery, and in Europe by Plus One Gallery in London. Fischbach Gallery has been my primary venue. I have had solo shows there in 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 and 2013. I have had solo shows at the Thomas Segal Gallery in Boston 1981, the National Academy of Science in 1992, and the Elaine Baker Gallery In Florida 2000. I served as the Master Teacher and then as a Panelist for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts from 1989 to 1993. I was awarded two consecutive grants by the ED Foundation, one in 1999 and a second one in 2000. I was elected to be a Guggenheim Fellow for 2013. I have been included in numerous group shows in institutions across the country: The most recent was at the Cathedral of St John The Divine. Titled THE VALUE OF WATER, it was curated by Fredericka Foster. In their quest to raise awareness of the environmental importance of this diminishing resource, the Episcopal Church of NYC mounted an ambitious show in the sanctuary of the Cathedral. This was seen by thousands of people as many other events occurred simultaneously in the space while the show was up. My painting was also included in the 179 Annual of the National Academy of Art’s museum show in 2004. Other museum venues include the Neuberger Gallery at Purchase NY (2003); the Emily Lowe Gallery Hofstra University (2001); Duke University Museum, (1997); Florida International University (1995); the Odakyu Museum in Tokyo (traveling in Japan 1994-5); the Boise Museum (traveling 1993-4); Sewall Art Gallery, Rice University, Houston, TX, 1993; Nassau County Museum of Art of Art, 1993; The Flint Institute of Arts, MN 1991; Sheehan Gallery, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 1988; Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, PA 1986; Springfield Art Museum, Missouri, 1986;Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA and The New York Academy of Art, New York 1986;San Francisco Museum of Art, California,( traveling 1985-87) ;The Isetan Museum, Tokyo and the Daimura Museum, Osaka, Japan 1985;Whitney Museum of American Art, Downtown Branch, New York 1982;The Marion Koogler McNay Art Institute, San Antonio, TX, 1981; San Antonio Museum of Art, Texas; traveling to; Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana 1980;ICA, Virginia Museum, Richmond 1980.

I have had my work written about in several venues. Most recently R+H Magazine published an extensive interview with me, done by Safak Gunez Goldmun in March 2012 I have had work reviewed in the NY Times by Hilton Kramer, 2004, Vivian Raynor in 1994 and 1982. Ronny Cohen reviewed my work Art Forum in 1991. Michael Weitzenbach reviewed my show at the National Institute Of Science in the Washington Post in 1992. Dr Leda Cempellin published an extensive monograph Leigh Behnke; Real Spaces, Imagined Lives. Padova: Coop. Libraria Editrice Universita di Padova, 2005. My work is included in the collections of: Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, NH Georgetown University, Washington, DC Massachusetts Institute of Technology, List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri New York Public Library, New York Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown OH My documentary data and research materials are housed at Smithsonian Archives of American Art.