Leo Berk

Leo Berk received a BFA from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1997, and an MFA from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1999. His work has been shown in solo exhibitions at the Seattle Art Museum, Lawrimore Project, the Lee Center, and Howard House in Seattle, cherrydelosreyes in Los Angeles, and the Bellevue Art Museum. His work has been included in shows at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, Galleri Erik Steen in Oslo, Edward Cella in Los Angeles, d.u.m.b.o. Arts Center in Brooklyn, Tacoma Art Museum, Marylhurst University in Portland, and California State University, Long Beach.

Leo has been honored with grants and awards by the Seattle Art Commission and 4Culture and was the recipient of the 2013 Betty Bowen Award. His work has been published in Art in America, Art Ltd., LA Times, Modern Painters, The Seattle Times, The Seattle Post Intelligencer, The Stranger, and Seattle Weekly, and has been acquired by such public collections as the Seattle Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, Frye Art Museum, University of Washington, City of Seattle, King County, Amgen Corporation, and the United States Department of Navy. His work was chosen to be in the King County Public Art Collection for their portable arts collection.

Leo received 2014 GAP Award funding for beginning and advanced welding classes and for the purchase of a small, quality MIG welder kit.

Leo received 2006 GAP Award funding for the purchase of materials and processes that will make possible a large-scale architectural work. In the past, Leo has created works for private clients, by commission, and to their specifications. “I would like to use this grant to free myself from the limitations of the commission relationship that has in the past made this [scale of] work possible. I am proposing, in essence, to commission myself to develop a…work to be shown at a public, nonprofit venue.”

Leo also received a 2002 Fellowship and 2001 GAP Award from Artist Trust.