Renee was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school graduation, she decided to immediately join the work force and continued her education by attending night school at the University of Cincinnati earning an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts while working for Proctor & Gamble. During those years, she met many wonderful people, one of which is her husband, who grew up in southern New Jersey. In 2002, she relocated to New Jersey to start a family.
From early childhood, Renee has always been interested in art and found ways to create during her free time. In 2008, she took an Advanced Painting workshop at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. From then on, she knew her focus had to change. She has continued to further her art education through workshops and independent study including Life Drawing and plein air painting sessions with fellow artists.
Her newest works are primarily pastel paintings. Through her studies, she realized that painting with pastels has pushed her to explore and create more than she thought she could. Working with pastels can be quick and expressive in a way she wasn’t finding with other mediums and has given her painting style a turn toward impressionism.
She finds inspiration in the people and local seasonal landscapes of southern New Jersey; from the ocean and marshes to creeks and woods to farmland.
Workshops / Portfolio Programs Attended:
Showcase the Color of Light, Sally Strand, IAPS, June 2019
The Painterly Portrait, Alain Picard, Crow Creek School of Art, November 2017
The Poetic Landscape in Pastel, Barbara Jaenicke, Crow Creek School of Art, November 2015
Master Class, Stan Sperlak, Crow Creek Studio, March 2015
Fall Workshop, Stan Sperlak, Crow Creek Studio, September, 2014
Sunrise/Sunset Pastel workshop, Stan Sperlak, Crow Creek Studio, September 2012
Oil Painting: Still Life and Figure, Studio Incamminati, April-June 2009
Advanced Painting, Studio Incamminati, January 2009
Gallery Representation:
LaBottega of Art Gallery
501 N. High Street, Millville, NJ
Makt Arts
5112 Ventnor Avenue, Ventnor, NJ (609-796-2397)
Chora Leone Gallery
419 Bethel Road, Somers Point, NJ
Square Pear Fine Art Gallery
200 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA (484-883-5429)
Solo Exhibitions:
Village Gallery, Annual Solo Exhibit, March 2023, 2024
March & August, 2021, March-July, 2020, March, 2019, March 2018 & March 2017Gallery 50, Inc., Solo Exhibit, August 2021
Jessie Creek Winery, Solo Exhibit, July 2021
Medford Arts Center, 6 x 6" Squared: 30 Days of Life at the Shore, March-April 2021
Nashville North Studios, November - December 2019
Ocean City Arts Center, South Jersey: By Land & Sea, October 2019
Friends Village at Woodstown, Solo Exhibit, August-October 2019
Paper & Pigment: Pastel Painting by Renee Leopardi, Gallery 50, Inc., February 2019
The Art Space, June 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Atrium, April 2017
Dual Artist Exhibitions:
The Gallery at the Ferry, May 2023
The Gallery at the Ferry, All is Bright, December 2022
Noyes Museum at Shore Medical Center, October - December 2019
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, A Sense of Time, A Sense of Place, May 2018
Village on High Gallery, Two Sides to Every Story, Paintings of the South Jersey Landscape, March 2017
Great Bay Gallery, On Metal & Sand, June 2017
National / International Juried Competitions:
Philadelphia Pastel Society, Annual Members' Exhibition, January 2024
Philadelphia Pastel Society, 2nd Annual Juried Competition, August 2023
Philadelphia Pastel Society, On-line Competition, March 2023
Top 50 Finalist, Uart Annual On-line Competition, 2022
LBIF Annual Plein Air Painting Competition and Exhibit, September 2021 & 2022
Medford Arts Center, Annual Works on Paper Juried Show, January 2021, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Show, November 2020, 2nd Place Award
Pastel Society of New Jersey, 14th Annual Juried Competition, November 2019, Merit Award
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Pure Color International Online Exhibit, September 2019
Philadelphia Sketch Club, Works on Paper, Juried Exhibit, January 2019
Pastel Society of New Jersey, Focus on Pastels 13th Annual Juried Exhibition, November 2018
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Show, November 2018
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Pure Color Online Exhibit, 2018
Philadelphia Sketch Club, 2018 Works on Paper, Juried Exhibit, January 2018
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Show, November 2017
Pastel Society of Colorado, Illuminated Online Exhibit, 2017
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Pure Color Online Exhibit, 2017
The International Association of Pastel Societies 30th Juried Exhibition, 2017 Convention, Albuquerque, NM
Philadelphia Sketch Club, 2017 Works on Paper, Juried Exhibit, January 2017
Group Exhibitions:
(2018-2024)
Square Pear Gallery, Various shows, 2024
Square Pear Gallery, Various shows, May-December 2023
The Gallery At the Ferry, "Be Bold", May 2023
Judges Show, Ocean City Fine Arts League, January 2023, 2024
Pastel Impressions, (4 artist show) Perkins Center for the Arts, Sept & Oct 2022
Atlantic Cape Community College, Faculty and Staff Exhibit, Spring 2022
Medford Arts Center, Instructor Exhibit, June 2021
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Winners Quartet, November-December, 2020
Strobe Signature Artist Exhibit, September 2020, 2021
Village Gallery, All You Need is Love, February 2020, Best in Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Associates II, October 2019, Winner
Ocean City Arts Center, Another Winter in a Summer Town, August, 2019
Great Bay Gallery, Messing About in Boats, August, 2019
Nashville North Studios, Animal Kingdom, August, 2019
Avalon Performing Arts Council, 32nd Annual Art Show, June 2019, 2nd Place Award
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Artists' Day on the River, June 2019
Ocean City Arts Center, In the Manner of David Hockney, June 2019, Top Award
11th Annual Hammonton Plein Air Event, June 2019, Honorable Mention
Atlantic Cape Community College, Celebrate the Cape 2019, April 2019
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Associates Show, March 2019
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Shadows, March 2019
Nashville North Studios, Red, February 2019
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Winners Quartet, November - December 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Anything Goes, November 2018, Honorable Mention
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Associate II Show, October 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Everyday Life, October 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Memories, September 2018
Nashville North Studios, Georgia O'Keefe Tribute, September 2018
Great Bay Gallery, Under the Boardwalk, August 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Jersey Shore, July-August 2018, Honorable Mention
Avalon Performing Arts Council 31st Annual Show & Sale, June 2018, Best in Show
Nashville North Studios, On the Road, June 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Flowers, June 2018
Nashville North Studios, By the Sea, May 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, AgriCulture, April, 2018
Nashville North Studios, Sugar Buzz, April, 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Associate Show I, March, 2018
Nashville North Studios, The-Art of Winter, February-March, 2018
The Artist's Framer, Slice of Life, March 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Being Human, February 2018, Second Place
Ocean City Center of Art, Teacher / Student Exhibit, February 2018
Awards:
Medford Arts Center, Annual Works on Paper Juried Show, January 2021, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Competition, 2nd Place Winner
Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance, Annual Plein Air Event, 2nd Place Winner
Ocean City Fine Arts League, All Creatures Great & Small, 3rd Place Winner
Glasstown Arts District, Kiosk Competition, September 2020, Winner in Floral category
Village on High Gallery, 12 x 12", September 2020, Honorable Mention
Village on High Gallery, All You Need is Love, February 2020, Best in Show
Pastel Society of New Jersey, 14th Annual Juried Competition, November 2019, Merit Award
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Associate Show II October 2019, Winner
Avalon Performing Arts Council, 32nd Annual Art Show, June 2019, 2nd Place Award
Ocean City Arts Center, In the Manner of David Hockney, June 2019, Top Award
11th Annual Hammonton Plein Air Event, June 2019, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Anything Goes, November 2018, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Jersey Shore, July-August 2018, Honorable Mention
Avalon Performing Arts Council, 31st Annual Art Show & Sale, June 2018, Best in Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Being Human, February 2018, Second Place
Ocean City Fine Arts League, La Petite, December 2017, First Place
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Associate Show II, September 2017, Winner
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Changing Seasons, September 2017, Second Place
Seaville Art Barn, 2nd Annual Juried Art Show, Second Place
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Summer, July-August 2017, Honorable Mention
Art in the Park, Annual Exhibit, June 2017, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Weather, April 2017, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Casting Shadows, October 2016, Honorable Mention
The Barn, Summer 2016 Juried Art Exhibit, 1st Place Award
29th Annual Art Show, Avalon Community Center, June 2016, Second Place in works under glass
Galloway Arts Center, Autumn Splendor, September through December 2015, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Bird's Eye View, October 2015, Honorable Mention
The Artist Framer Plein Air Competition, September 2015, 3rd Place Award
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Changing Seasons, September 2015, Honorable Mention
Monteiro Studio/La Bottega Gallery, October, 2011, Merit Award
Memberships:
Pastel Society of America, Associate Member
International Association of Pastel Societies
Pastel Society of New Jersey
Philadelphia Pastel Society, Signature Member
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Associate Member
Ocean City Fine Arts League
Strobe NJ, Signature Artist
From early childhood, Renee has always been interested in art and found ways to create during her free time. In 2008, she took an Advanced Painting workshop at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. From then on, she knew her focus had to change. She has continued to further her art education through workshops and independent study including Life Drawing and plein air painting sessions with fellow artists.
Her newest works are primarily pastel paintings. Through her studies, she realized that painting with pastels has pushed her to explore and create more than she thought she could. Working with pastels can be quick and expressive in a way she wasn’t finding with other mediums and has given her painting style a turn toward impressionism.
She finds inspiration in the people and local seasonal landscapes of southern New Jersey; from the ocean and marshes to creeks and woods to farmland.
Workshops / Portfolio Programs Attended:
Showcase the Color of Light, Sally Strand, IAPS, June 2019
The Painterly Portrait, Alain Picard, Crow Creek School of Art, November 2017
The Poetic Landscape in Pastel, Barbara Jaenicke, Crow Creek School of Art, November 2015
Master Class, Stan Sperlak, Crow Creek Studio, March 2015
Fall Workshop, Stan Sperlak, Crow Creek Studio, September, 2014
Sunrise/Sunset Pastel workshop, Stan Sperlak, Crow Creek Studio, September 2012
Oil Painting: Still Life and Figure, Studio Incamminati, April-June 2009
Advanced Painting, Studio Incamminati, January 2009
Gallery Representation:
LaBottega of Art Gallery
501 N. High Street, Millville, NJ
Makt Arts
5112 Ventnor Avenue, Ventnor, NJ (609-796-2397)
Chora Leone Gallery
419 Bethel Road, Somers Point, NJ
Square Pear Fine Art Gallery
200 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA (484-883-5429)
Solo Exhibitions:
Village Gallery, Annual Solo Exhibit, March 2023, 2024
March & August, 2021, March-July, 2020, March, 2019, March 2018 & March 2017Gallery 50, Inc., Solo Exhibit, August 2021
Jessie Creek Winery, Solo Exhibit, July 2021
Medford Arts Center, 6 x 6" Squared: 30 Days of Life at the Shore, March-April 2021
Nashville North Studios, November - December 2019
Ocean City Arts Center, South Jersey: By Land & Sea, October 2019
Friends Village at Woodstown, Solo Exhibit, August-October 2019
Paper & Pigment: Pastel Painting by Renee Leopardi, Gallery 50, Inc., February 2019
The Art Space, June 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Atrium, April 2017
Dual Artist Exhibitions:
The Gallery at the Ferry, May 2023
The Gallery at the Ferry, All is Bright, December 2022
Noyes Museum at Shore Medical Center, October - December 2019
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, A Sense of Time, A Sense of Place, May 2018
Village on High Gallery, Two Sides to Every Story, Paintings of the South Jersey Landscape, March 2017
Great Bay Gallery, On Metal & Sand, June 2017
National / International Juried Competitions:
Philadelphia Pastel Society, Annual Members' Exhibition, January 2024
Philadelphia Pastel Society, 2nd Annual Juried Competition, August 2023
Philadelphia Pastel Society, On-line Competition, March 2023
Top 50 Finalist, Uart Annual On-line Competition, 2022
LBIF Annual Plein Air Painting Competition and Exhibit, September 2021 & 2022
Medford Arts Center, Annual Works on Paper Juried Show, January 2021, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Show, November 2020, 2nd Place Award
Pastel Society of New Jersey, 14th Annual Juried Competition, November 2019, Merit Award
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Pure Color International Online Exhibit, September 2019
Philadelphia Sketch Club, Works on Paper, Juried Exhibit, January 2019
Pastel Society of New Jersey, Focus on Pastels 13th Annual Juried Exhibition, November 2018
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Show, November 2018
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Pure Color Online Exhibit, 2018
Philadelphia Sketch Club, 2018 Works on Paper, Juried Exhibit, January 2018
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Show, November 2017
Pastel Society of Colorado, Illuminated Online Exhibit, 2017
Pastel Society of North Carolina, Pure Color Online Exhibit, 2017
The International Association of Pastel Societies 30th Juried Exhibition, 2017 Convention, Albuquerque, NM
Philadelphia Sketch Club, 2017 Works on Paper, Juried Exhibit, January 2017
Group Exhibitions:
(2018-2024)
Square Pear Gallery, Various shows, 2024
Square Pear Gallery, Various shows, May-December 2023
The Gallery At the Ferry, "Be Bold", May 2023
Judges Show, Ocean City Fine Arts League, January 2023, 2024
Pastel Impressions, (4 artist show) Perkins Center for the Arts, Sept & Oct 2022
Atlantic Cape Community College, Faculty and Staff Exhibit, Spring 2022
Medford Arts Center, Instructor Exhibit, June 2021
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Winners Quartet, November-December, 2020
Strobe Signature Artist Exhibit, September 2020, 2021
Village Gallery, All You Need is Love, February 2020, Best in Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Associates II, October 2019, Winner
Ocean City Arts Center, Another Winter in a Summer Town, August, 2019
Great Bay Gallery, Messing About in Boats, August, 2019
Nashville North Studios, Animal Kingdom, August, 2019
Avalon Performing Arts Council, 32nd Annual Art Show, June 2019, 2nd Place Award
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Artists' Day on the River, June 2019
Ocean City Arts Center, In the Manner of David Hockney, June 2019, Top Award
11th Annual Hammonton Plein Air Event, June 2019, Honorable Mention
Atlantic Cape Community College, Celebrate the Cape 2019, April 2019
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Associates Show, March 2019
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Shadows, March 2019
Nashville North Studios, Red, February 2019
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Winners Quartet, November - December 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Anything Goes, November 2018, Honorable Mention
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Associate II Show, October 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Everyday Life, October 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Memories, September 2018
Nashville North Studios, Georgia O'Keefe Tribute, September 2018
Great Bay Gallery, Under the Boardwalk, August 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Jersey Shore, July-August 2018, Honorable Mention
Avalon Performing Arts Council 31st Annual Show & Sale, June 2018, Best in Show
Nashville North Studios, On the Road, June 2018
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Flowers, June 2018
Nashville North Studios, By the Sea, May 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, AgriCulture, April, 2018
Nashville North Studios, Sugar Buzz, April, 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Associate Show I, March, 2018
Nashville North Studios, The-Art of Winter, February-March, 2018
The Artist's Framer, Slice of Life, March 2018
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Being Human, February 2018, Second Place
Ocean City Center of Art, Teacher / Student Exhibit, February 2018
Awards:
Medford Arts Center, Annual Works on Paper Juried Show, January 2021, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Arts Center, Annual Juried Competition, 2nd Place Winner
Absecon Cultural Arts Alliance, Annual Plein Air Event, 2nd Place Winner
Ocean City Fine Arts League, All Creatures Great & Small, 3rd Place Winner
Glasstown Arts District, Kiosk Competition, September 2020, Winner in Floral category
Village on High Gallery, 12 x 12", September 2020, Honorable Mention
Village on High Gallery, All You Need is Love, February 2020, Best in Show
Pastel Society of New Jersey, 14th Annual Juried Competition, November 2019, Merit Award
Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Associate Show II October 2019, Winner
Avalon Performing Arts Council, 32nd Annual Art Show, June 2019, 2nd Place Award
Ocean City Arts Center, In the Manner of David Hockney, June 2019, Top Award
11th Annual Hammonton Plein Air Event, June 2019, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Anything Goes, November 2018, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Jersey Shore, July-August 2018, Honorable Mention
Avalon Performing Arts Council, 31st Annual Art Show & Sale, June 2018, Best in Show
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Being Human, February 2018, Second Place
Ocean City Fine Arts League, La Petite, December 2017, First Place
Riverfront Renaissance Center of Art, Associate Show II, September 2017, Winner
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Changing Seasons, September 2017, Second Place
Seaville Art Barn, 2nd Annual Juried Art Show, Second Place
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Summer, July-August 2017, Honorable Mention
Art in the Park, Annual Exhibit, June 2017, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Weather, April 2017, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Casting Shadows, October 2016, Honorable Mention
The Barn, Summer 2016 Juried Art Exhibit, 1st Place Award
29th Annual Art Show, Avalon Community Center, June 2016, Second Place in works under glass
Galloway Arts Center, Autumn Splendor, September through December 2015, Honorable Mention
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Bird's Eye View, October 2015, Honorable Mention
The Artist Framer Plein Air Competition, September 2015, 3rd Place Award
Ocean City Fine Arts League, Changing Seasons, September 2015, Honorable Mention
Monteiro Studio/La Bottega Gallery, October, 2011, Merit Award
Memberships:
Pastel Society of America, Associate Member
International Association of Pastel Societies
Pastel Society of New Jersey
Philadelphia Pastel Society, Signature Member
Riverfront Renaissance Center of the Arts, Associate Member
Ocean City Fine Arts League
Strobe NJ, Signature Artist