Leah Lopez is an award winning artist whose paintings have been featured in national exhibitions including American Women Artists, Salon International, Allied Artists of America, Oil Painters of America, National Association of Women Artists, and Miniatures at The Albuquerque Museum. She teaches painting classes at the New York Academy of Art and workshops around the country.

Raised in the unique culture and beauty of Northern New Mexico, artists and artisans captured Leah’s imagination and inspired her to explore creative outlets.  Her innate love for drawing and painting was a continual source of inspiration and led her to practice traditional techniques through a series of art classes in California and later to attend art classes at the University of New Mexico.  At age 23, she began learning her most valuable lessons in art from exceptional artists and teachers Gregg Kreutz, Sherrie McGraw, and David Leffel through classes held at in the Southwest and at the Art Students League of New York. It was not long before Leah's paintings received recognition and she was awarded First Place at the Traditional Fine Arts, First Place, Oils at the Best and Brightest, an Honorable Mention at Salon International and First Place at the National Association of Women Artists.

Leah still approaches every new subject as an opportunity to learn.  She says, “Things are always changing, so each time I approach a subject and a painting it is, for me, new challenge with new possibilities.”

Education
2007                Art Students League of New York
2005-2006       Andreeva Portrait Academy
2005                Loveland Academy of Fine Art
2004-2006       Fechin Institute
2004-2006       Scottsdale Artists School
2000                Mission: Renaissance Fine Art Academy

Exhibitions
2009                Salmagundi Club Non-Members Exhibition
2009                Oil Painters of America - National
2009                National Association of Women Artists
2008                American Women Artists – Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena, CA
2008                Miniatures, The Albuquerque Museum
2008                Hudson Valley Art Association
2008                Oil Painters of America - National
2008                Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery
2007                Miniatures, The Albuquerque Museum
2007                Solo Show, Downey Gallery
2006                Allied Artists of America
2006                Best and Brightest, Scottsdale Artists School
2006                Miniatures, The Albuquerque Museum
2006                Still Life Group Show, Downey Gallery
2006                A World of Flowers, The Art Center at Fuller Lodge
2006                Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery
2005                American Women Artists
2005                Miniatures, The Albuquerque Museum
2005                Featured Five x 2, The Art Center at Fuller Lodge
2004                Traditional Fine Arts, The Art Center at Fuller Lodge

Awards
2009                “First Place, Solo Show Award”, National Association of Women Artists
2008                "Award of Merit" American Women Artists
2006                "First Place Oils" The Best and Brightest, Scottsdale Artists’ School
2006                "Honorable Mention" Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery
2004                "First Place Award" Traditional Fine Arts, The Art Center at Fuller Lodge

Teaching Experience
2008-2009       New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2008-2009       Cape Cod Art Association, Barnstable, MA
2008-2009       Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT
2007                Valdez Art Classes, Santa Fe, NM
2006                Art Center at Fuller Lodge, Los Alamos, NM
2001-2002       University of New Mexico, Los Alamos, NM
2000                Mission: Renaissance Fine Art Studios, Glendale, CA