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Shaun Leonardo has been featured in many prominent publications including [[The New York Times]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Art%20in%20Review%20-%20New%20York%20Times.pdf|title=Art Review NYT|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Down%20by%20the%20River%20-%20New%20York%20Times.pdf|title=NYT Down The River Elceleonardo.com|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[Boston Herald|The Boston Globe]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/05/19/rotenberg_gallery_explores_masculinity/|title=Man vs Measures Masculinity|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[ArtForum]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artforum.com/video/mode=large&id=55914|title=I cant Breathe public participatory|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[The New Yorker]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/local-heroes|title=New Yorker Local Heroes|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[Interview]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://untappedcities.com/2013/02/13/no-longer-empty-interview-shaun-leonardo-tiki-tiki-club/|title=Untapped cities|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[The Village Voice]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/between-history-and-the-body-is-a-damned-good-summer-art-show-7469401|title=Village Voice Between History and The body is Damned Good Summer Art Show|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=MoMA_Ps1&action=edit&redlink=1 MoMA Ps1] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=MOMA ps1 Studio Visit|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=PAPERMAG&action=edit&redlink=1 PAPERMAG]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elcleonardo.com/press.php|title=Shaun Leonardo website press page|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
Shaun Leonardo has been featured in many prominent publications including [[The New York Times]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Art%20in%20Review%20-%20New%20York%20Times.pdf|title=Art Review NYT|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Down%20by%20the%20River%20-%20New%20York%20Times.pdf|title=NYT Down The River Elceleonardo.com|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[Boston Herald|The Boston Globe]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/05/19/rotenberg_gallery_explores_masculinity/|title=Man vs Measures Masculinity|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[ArtForum]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artforum.com/video/mode=large&id=55914|title=I cant Breathe public participatory|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[The New Yorker]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/local-heroes|title=New Yorker Local Heroes|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[Interview]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://untappedcities.com/2013/02/13/no-longer-empty-interview-shaun-leonardo-tiki-tiki-club/|title=Untapped cities|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [[The Village Voice]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/between-history-and-the-body-is-a-damned-good-summer-art-show-7469401|title=Village Voice Between History and The body is Damned Good Summer Art Show|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, [https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=MoMA_Ps1&action=edit&redlink=1 MoMA Ps1] <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=MOMA ps1 Studio Visit|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=PAPERMAG&action=edit&redlink=1 PAPERMAG]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://elcleonardo.com/press.php|title=Shaun Leonardo website press page|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


Leonardo started off in college making comic book [[Superhero|superheroes]] cutouts, and from there he began delving in performance art as well. He has described his work as an extension of his way of protecting himself as a hyper masculine superhero, which activates vulnerabilities within his identity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/local-heroes|title=New Yorker Magazine Local Heros|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Blu%20Magazine_Shaun%20El%20C.%20Leonardo.pdf|title=Blu Mag Shaun El C Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/between-history-and-the-body-is-a-damned-good-summer-art-show-7469401|title=Village Coice Arts between History|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
Leonardo started off in college making comic book [[Superhero|superheroes]] cutouts, and from there he began delving in performance art as well. He has described his work as an extension of his way of protecting himself as a hyper masculine superhero, which activates vulnerabilities within his identity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/local-heroes|title=New Yorker Magazine Local Heros|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Differentiating between his paintings and his performance, he has stated the following, <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/HoustonChronicle_Musiqa%20enters%20ring%20with%20performance%20art.pdf|title=Houston Chronicle Musiqa Enters ring with performance art|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <nowiki>''</nowiki>with plywood cutout paintings I isolate forms, allowing me to play with strategies 
of exclusion and invisibility. Through performance, on the other hand, I personify this iconography rather than depict its imagery. Whether painting, drawing, sculpture or performance, my work relates the confusion, desperation and, often times, failure we experience when attempting to either locate ourselves within our popular cultures or aspire to their unattainable ideals." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ifacontemporary.org/the-eighth-floor-please/|title=Eighth Floor Pleas Ifacontemporary.org|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Blu%20Magazine_Shaun%20El%20C.%20Leonardo.pdf|title=Blu Mag Shaun El C Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


By utilizing the theatrical spectacle, Leonardo challenges the norm by using performance and other art medias to portray the male gender identity. Through his expansive composition of athleticism, sexuality and popular culture, Leonardo "holds a unique perspective between existing artist and active athlete which is rare in the art world." <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=Studio Visit Shaun El C. Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/APT%20Insight%20Vol%203%20Spring%20Summer%202008.pdf|title=APT INsight|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/BEAUTIFUL%20DECAY%20-%20Anthologyexhibitionpreviewshaunleonardo%40lacma.pdf|title=Beautiful Decay Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
By utilizing the theatrical spectacle, Leonardo challenges the norm by using performance and other art medias to portray the male gender identity. Through his expansive composition of athleticism, sexuality and popular culture, Leonardo "holds a unique perspective between existing artist and active athlete which is rare in the art world." <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=Studio Visit Shaun El C. Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/APT%20Insight%20Vol%203%20Spring%20Summer%202008.pdf|title=APT INsight|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/BEAUTIFUL%20DECAY%20-%20Anthologyexhibitionpreviewshaunleonardo%40lacma.pdf|title=Beautiful Decay Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Shaun often goes by "El Conquistador" during performance pieces. Specifically in his work, ''The Arena'' at the [[Contemporary Arts Museum Houston]] Leonardo challenged peoples expectations of what a wrestler really is in relation to music. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=Studio Visit Shaun El C. Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/between-history-and-the-body-is-a-damned-good-summer-art-show-7469401|title=Village Coice Arts between History|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Houston%20CultureMap_New%20music%20in%20a%20different%20arena.pdf|title=Culture Map Huston|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

Shaun often goes by "El Conquistador" during performance pieces. Specifically in his work, ''The Arena'' at the [[Contemporary Arts Museum Houston]] Leonardo challenged peoples expectations of what a wrestler really is in relation to music. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=Studio Visit Shaun El C. Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Houston%20CultureMap_New%20music%20in%20a%20different%20arena.pdf|title=Culture Map Huston|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

Differentiating between his paintings and his performance, he has stated the following, <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/HoustonChronicle_Musiqa%20enters%20ring%20with%20performance%20art.pdf|title=Houston Chronicle Musiqa Enters ring with performance art|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <nowiki>''</nowiki>with plywood cutout paintings I isolate forms, allowing me to play with strategies 
of exclusion and invisibility. Through performance, on the other hand, I personify this iconography rather than depict its imagery. Whether painting, drawing, sculpture or performance, my work relates the confusion, desperation and, often times, failure we experience when attempting to either locate ourselves within our popular cultures or aspire to their unattainable ideals." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ifacontemporary.org/the-eighth-floor-please/|title=Eighth Floor Pleas Ifacontemporary.org|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
== Performance works ==
== Performance works ==
Shaun Leonardo created a piece related to [[Eric Garner]] and [[Michael Brown]], depicting the events in which they were killed by using cartoon panel presentations. Leonardo also exhibited a workshop-performance called "I Can't Breathe." This was a public-participatory event on October 16, 2015. This was a self defense class and part public participative performance that concluded with a discussion between the artist and Dr. Isaiah B. Pickens, a clinical psychologist and writer on the topic of trauma. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artforum.com/video/mode=large&id=55914|title=Shaun Leonardo, I Can’t Breathe, a Public-participatory Workshop and Performance, 2015|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
Shaun Leonardo created a piece related to [[Eric Garner]] and [[Michael Brown]], depicting the events in which they were killed by using cartoon panel presentations. Leonardo also exhibited a workshop-performance called "I Can't Breathe." This was a public-participatory event on October 16, 2015. This was a self defense class and part public participative performance that concluded with a discussion between the artist and Dr. Isaiah B. Pickens, a clinical psychologist and writer on the topic of trauma. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artforum.com/video/mode=large&id=55914|title=Shaun Leonardo, I Can’t Breathe, a Public-participatory Workshop and Performance, 2015|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


His most notable performance was ''Bull in the Ring'' in which he investigated masculinity the sports associated with it, at [[LACMA]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Los,_Angeles,_California&action=edit&redlink=1 Los, Angeles, California]. "Where ten football players would test the artist with physical tests."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Frieze_ClubRules.pdf|title=Frieze Club Rules Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
His most notable performance was ''Bull in the Ring'' in which he investigated masculinity the sports associated with it, at [[LACMA]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Los,_Angeles,_California&action=edit&redlink=1 Los, Angeles, California]. Placing players at view of visitors "where ten football players would test the artist with physical tests."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Frieze_ClubRules.pdf|title=Frieze Club Rules Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


Shaun El. C. Leonardo performs again as a boxer in performance titled "''El Conquistador vs. The Invisible Man,"'' (2004-2007) " Through the performance he made implications of the stereotypes of black masculinity and performa. Leonardo incited audiences to a join the boxing ring with all the trappings of a match." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artpractical.com/column/endurance-tests-radical-presence/|title=endurance-tests-radical-presence|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artpractical.com/column/endurance-tests-radical-presence/|title=Art Practical Endurance tests radical presence|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
Leonardo performs again as a boxer in performance titled ''El Conquistador vs. The Invisible Man,"''(2004-2007) " Through the performance he made implications of the stereotypes of black masculinity and performa. Leonardo incited audiences to a join the boxing ring with all the trappings of a match." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artpractical.com/column/endurance-tests-radical-presence/|title=endurance-tests-radical-presence|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.artpractical.com/column/endurance-tests-radical-presence/|title=Art Practical Endurance tests radical presence|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


At the [[Brooklyn Museum|Brooklyn]] Museum of Art, Leonardo staged a dance hall event that toyed tradition, by having women pay men to dance with them. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/local-heroes|title=NYMAG Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/latest-news/article10418627.html#.VNkihcYmDOps|title=Charlotte Observer.com Latest News|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
At the [[Brooklyn Museum]], Leonardo staged a dance hall event that toyed tradition, by having women pay men to dance with them. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/local-heroes|title=NYMAG Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/latest-news/article10418627.html#.VNkihcYmDOps|title=Charlotte Observer.com Latest News|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
== Selected Art works ==
== Selected Art works ==
Shaun Leonardo carves recognizable silhouettes from plywood or fiberboard or sign enamel and paints body figures and dressed in costumes within different postures and poses. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/SleepingGiantARTnews_10-11.jpg|title=Art News Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Leonardo has also worked with graphite on paper as well as sculpture with his work “Self-Portrait Icon” — a grand marble statuette with leonine hair and a cape as big as a carpet. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2013/01/oddities_at_aljira_ogling_rabb.html|title=Oddities|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
Shaun Leonardo carves recognizable silhouettes from plywood or fiberboard or sign enamel and paints body figures and dressed in costumes within different postures and poses. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/SleepingGiantARTnews_10-11.jpg|title=Art News Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Leonardo has also worked with graphite on paper as well as sculpture with his work “Self-Portrait Icon” — a grand marble statuette with leonine hair and a cape as big as a carpet. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2013/01/oddities_at_aljira_ogling_rabb.html|title=Oddities|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


''"Sleeping Giant (2008)"'' is one of his many reputable painting in which he depicted a [[superhero]] beneath a dim city sky line.
''Sleeping Giant (2008)'' is one of his many reputable painting in which he depicted a [[superhero]] beneath a dim city sky line.


Praxis Gallery held an bustling opening of Shaun Leonardo's exceptional self portraits "Death of King." [[Paper (magazine)]] called Leonardo's hulking superhero's "elegant, frail" and added that he can "explore the complexities of both masculinity and religious iconography." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/shaun-el-c-leonardos-death-of-a-king-opens-at-praxis-gallery-1425707496.html|title=PAPER "DEATH OF KING" OPENS AT PRAXIS|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> "''Self Portrait Azua"'' is a series of self portrait paintings, by which Leonardo that implies a province in the [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]] Republic. Leonardo paints himself as different [[mythological]] archetypes. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/SleepingGiantARTnews_10-11.jpg|title=Art News Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ifacontemporary.org/the-eighth-floor-please/|title=Eighth floor please|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>
Praxis Gallery held an bustling opening of Shaun Leonardo's exceptional self portraits ''Death of King''. [[Paper (magazine)]] called Leonardo's hulking superhero's "elegant, frail" and added that he can "explore the complexities of both masculinity and religious iconography." <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/shaun-el-c-leonardos-death-of-a-king-opens-at-praxis-gallery-1425707496.html|title=PAPER "DEATH OF KING" OPENS AT PRAXIS|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> "''Self Portrait Azua"'' is a another series of self portrait paintings, by which Leonardo implies a province in the [[Dominican Republic]]. Leonardo paints himself as different [[mythological]] archetypes. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/SleepingGiantARTnews_10-11.jpg|title=Art News Shaun Leonardo|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ifacontemporary.org/the-eighth-floor-please/|title=Eighth floor please|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>


== Recognition and Honors ==
== Recognition and Honors ==
Shaun Leonardo has won grants residencies and fellowships from the [[New York Foundation for the Arts|New]] York Foundation for the Arts, [[Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture|Skowhegan]] School of Painting<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=Moma ps1 Studio Visit|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, The New York Studio School, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Art Matters, McColl Center for Visual Art. El. C's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Shown work in the [[Brooklyn Museum of Art]], [[LACMA]], gallery of Rhys Mendes Gallery, Praxis International Art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/BEAUTIFUL%20DECAY%20-%20Anthologyexhibitionpreviewshaunleonardo%40lacma.pdf|title=Elcleonardo Huston Mag|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><references group="http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Hard%20Targets_Frieze.pdf" />
Shaun Leonardo has won grants residencies and fellowships from the [[New York Foundation for the Arts|New]] York Foundation for the Arts, [[Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture|Skowhegan]] School of Painting<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://momaps1.org/studio-visit/artist/shaun-el-c-leonardo|title=Moma ps1 Studio Visit|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>, The New York Studio School, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Art Matters, McColl Center for Visual Art. El. C's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Shown work in the [[Brooklyn Museum of Art]], [[LACMA]], as well as many others, he is represented by the gallery of Rhys Mendes Gallery, and Praxis International Art.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/BEAUTIFUL%20DECAY%20-%20Anthologyexhibitionpreviewshaunleonardo%40lacma.pdf|title=Elcleonardo Huston Mag|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref><references group="http://www.elcleonardo.com/press/Hard%20Targets_Frieze.pdf" />


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 15:27, 13 April 2016

Shaun El. C. Leonardo

Shaun El Conquistador Leonardo, known professionally as Shaun El. C. Leonardo, is an internationally recognized American born artist, performer and activist. Shaun Leonardo is best known for his work about sports, masculinity, and race.

Early life

Shaun Leonardo was born and raised in Queens, New York in 1980. His mother is from the Dominican Republic, his father is from Guatemala. His parents raised him with a Latin upbringing and were practicing Catholics. He went to an all boys Jesuit high school. He earned his Bachelors in painting from Bowdoin College in Brunswick Maine where he played college football, and followed pro wrestling vigorously. He went on to receive his Masters in Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2005. [1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page). [2] Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page). [3]

Career

Shaun Leonardo has been featured in many prominent publications including The New York Times[4][5], The Boston Globe[6], ArtForum[7], The New Yorker [8], Interview [9], The Village Voice[10], MoMA Ps1 [11], and PAPERMAG[12]

Leonardo started off in college making comic book superheroes cutouts, and from there he began delving in performance art as well. He has described his work as an extension of his way of protecting himself as a hyper masculine superhero, which activates vulnerabilities within his identity.[13] Differentiating between his paintings and his performance, he has stated the following, [14] ''with plywood cutout paintings I isolate forms, allowing me to play with strategies 
of exclusion and invisibility. Through performance, on the other hand, I personify this iconography rather than depict its imagery. Whether painting, drawing, sculpture or performance, my work relates the confusion, desperation and, often times, failure we experience when attempting to either locate ourselves within our popular cultures or aspire to their unattainable ideals." [15] [16]

By utilizing the theatrical spectacle, Leonardo challenges the norm by using performance and other art medias to portray the male gender identity. Through his expansive composition of athleticism, sexuality and popular culture, Leonardo "holds a unique perspective between existing artist and active athlete which is rare in the art world." [17][18] [19] Shaun often goes by "El Conquistador" during performance pieces. Specifically in his work, The Arena at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Leonardo challenged peoples expectations of what a wrestler really is in relation to music. [17] [20] [21]

Performance works

Shaun Leonardo created a piece related to Eric Garner and Michael Brown, depicting the events in which they were killed by using cartoon panel presentations. Leonardo also exhibited a workshop-performance called "I Can't Breathe." This was a public-participatory event on October 16, 2015. This was a self defense class and part public participative performance that concluded with a discussion between the artist and Dr. Isaiah B. Pickens, a clinical psychologist and writer on the topic of trauma. [22]

His most notable performance was Bull in the Ring in which he investigated masculinity the sports associated with it, at LACMA in Los, Angeles, California. Placing players at view of visitors "where ten football players would test the artist with physical tests."[23]

Leonardo performs again as a boxer in performance titled El Conquistador vs. The Invisible Man,"(2004-2007) " Through the performance he made implications of the stereotypes of black masculinity and performa. Leonardo incited audiences to a join the boxing ring with all the trappings of a match." [24] [25]

At the Brooklyn Museum, Leonardo staged a dance hall event that toyed tradition, by having women pay men to dance with them. [26] [27]

Selected Art works

Shaun Leonardo carves recognizable silhouettes from plywood or fiberboard or sign enamel and paints body figures and dressed in costumes within different postures and poses. [28] Leonardo has also worked with graphite on paper as well as sculpture with his work “Self-Portrait Icon” — a grand marble statuette with leonine hair and a cape as big as a carpet. [29]

Sleeping Giant (2008) is one of his many reputable painting in which he depicted a superhero beneath a dim city sky line.

Praxis Gallery held an bustling opening of Shaun Leonardo's exceptional self portraits Death of King. Paper (magazine) called Leonardo's hulking superhero's "elegant, frail" and added that he can "explore the complexities of both masculinity and religious iconography." [30] "Self Portrait Azua" is a another series of self portrait paintings, by which Leonardo implies a province in the Dominican Republic. Leonardo paints himself as different mythological archetypes. [31][32]

Recognition and Honors

Shaun Leonardo has won grants residencies and fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Skowhegan School of Painting[33], The New York Studio School, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Art Matters, McColl Center for Visual Art. El. C's work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Shown work in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, LACMA, as well as many others, he is represented by the gallery of Rhys Mendes Gallery, and Praxis International Art.[34]

References

  1. ^ "MoMa ps1 Studio Visit Leonardo".
  2. ^ "PAPER Shaun Leonardo".
  3. ^ "Shaun Leonardo Miami Art News".
  4. ^ "Art Review NYT" (PDF).
  5. ^ "NYT Down The River Elceleonardo.com" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Man vs Measures Masculinity".
  7. ^ "I cant Breathe public participatory".
  8. ^ "New Yorker Local Heroes".
  9. ^ "Untapped cities".
  10. ^ "Village Voice Between History and The body is Damned Good Summer Art Show".
  11. ^ "MOMA ps1 Studio Visit".
  12. ^ "Shaun Leonardo website press page".
  13. ^ "New Yorker Magazine Local Heros".
  14. ^ "Houston Chronicle Musiqa Enters ring with performance art" (PDF).
  15. ^ "Eighth Floor Pleas Ifacontemporary.org".
  16. ^ "Blu Mag Shaun El C Leonardo" (PDF).
  17. ^ a b "Studio Visit Shaun El C. Leonardo".
  18. ^ "APT INsight" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Beautiful Decay Shaun Leonardo" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Village Coice Arts between History".
  21. ^ "Culture Map Huston" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Shaun Leonardo, I Can't Breathe, a Public-participatory Workshop and Performance, 2015".
  23. ^ "Frieze Club Rules Shaun Leonardo" (PDF).
  24. ^ "endurance-tests-radical-presence".
  25. ^ "Art Practical Endurance tests radical presence".
  26. ^ "NYMAG Shaun Leonardo".
  27. ^ "Charlotte Observer.com Latest News".
  28. ^ "Art News Shaun Leonardo".
  29. ^ "Oddities".
  30. ^ "PAPER "DEATH OF KING" OPENS AT PRAXIS".
  31. ^ "Art News Shaun Leonardo".
  32. ^ "Eighth floor please".
  33. ^ "Moma ps1 Studio Visit".
  34. ^ "Elcleonardo Huston Mag" (PDF).
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