The rugged and potent characters of Gabe Leonard create a contemporary cinematic atmosphere that resonates with a sense of nostalgia. Through his incomparable use of light, brushwork and expressionism, his paintings capture a breathy scene of brute cowboys and vast landscapes. Western rogues and gunslingers… you can’t help but want more.
Roaming the frontier past the desert dust, his empowering female protagonists and ruthless outlaws pioneer their destinies beyond the adventures of the Wild West, keeping guns blazing as they ride off into the sunset.
Gabe Leonard: Rust, Dust, and Lust
Exhibition Dates:
October 13 – December 1, 2018
The opening reception with Gabe Leonard, live music, ArtHatch open studios, Stone Beer, and BK Cellars wine will be on Saturday October 13, 2019 | 6-10pm.
Distinction Gallery
317 E Grand Ave
Escondido CA 92025
Distinction Gallery is proud to present long time represented artist Gabe Leonard’s solo show “Rust, Dust, and Lust”. The exhibition will include train robbery themes, street shoot outs and bar / brothel / saloon scenes. Oils, Acrylic Enhanced Giclees, Hand Embellished GIclees, and paper prints will be available during the show.
Gabe Leonard spent his early years in rural Wyoming, sketching wildlife and selling his drawings for one dollar. After earning his BFA from Columbus College in Ohio, Leonard honed his talents on the ultra-competitive Venice Beach boardwalk. Described as “Johnny Cash meets Quentin Tarantino,” Leonard’s work possesses an intense cinematic quality combining the gestural brushwork of expressionism with the expert lighting and framing of a Hollywood cinematographer. His oils are cinematic, atmospheric and moody, revolving around outlaws, rugged noir characters to create narratives full of dramatic possibilities.
While his subjects and compositions belie a heavy influence of modern and contemporary cinema, Leonard’s artistic style is rooted firmly in a European tradition. While he often breaks from academic restrictions with his loose brushwork and characteristic drips, he counts Rembrandt, Mucha, Klimt an and Schiele as amongst his influences. Following a string of sell-out shows and acquisitions by high-profile collectors, Leonard has quickly become one of the most sought-after artists in the world. Recent celebrity collectors include Quentin Tarantino, Charlie Sheen, and Reuben Fleischer. Leonard currently resides in Los Angeles.
Gallery Director – Melissa Inez Walker:
“It is always a pleasure to host our annual solo show with artist Gabe Leonard.
