About Leslie Firestone
Leslie Firestone was born and raised in Michigan. She moved to the Bay Area at the age of 19 and has lived here for most of the last 23 years. Leslie grew up drawing from an early age. She thought that she would pursue a career in the arts, but political activism and diverse interests drew her to other paths. For more than 12 years Leslie worked in public health education with homeless folks, active drug users, and those with HIV overseeing and developing harm reduction programs. In 2002 Leslie left that work behind and after an inspired trip to New Mexico she had an overwhelming desire to paint. Leslie saw in art the ability to further her work in harm reduction by creating soothing and inspirational images. A self-taught painter, Leslie has been at it ever since. She currently lives in Berkeley with her partner and their dog and cat.
Artist Resume
East Bay Open Studios, Delaware Street Studio, Berkeley, CA, June 2004
Pistils and Anthers Gallery, San Francisco, CA, February - March 2004
66 Mint Street Studios Group Exhibition, San Francisco, CA, October 2003
San Francisco Open Studios, SomArts Gallery, San Francisco, CA, October 2003
Giorgi Gallery, Berkeley, CA, September 2003 - Present
Hunters Point Shipyards Open Studios, San Francisco, CA, April 2003
A Collection, Martin Eng Gallery, San Francisco, CA, February-March 2003
San Francisco Open Studios, SomArts Gallery, San Francisco, CA, October 2002
Abstracted Nature, Yosemite Place Studios, San Francisco, CA, October 2002
East Bay Open Studios, Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA, May-June 2002
Inspiration, West Berkeley Center, Berkeley, CA, June 2002
Vibrant Nature, Autumn Moon Caf, Oakland, CA, April-May 2002
Education
Self-taught painter
University of Michigan School of Art, Ann Arbor, MI, 1981-82
Master of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1996
Bachelor of Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1996
Publications
Urban View, "Inspiration", June 2002