Art Lab Presents:
“In the Streets” – Leon Stewart
on display at Art Lab from March 15 to May 31, 2025.
Gallery Hours:
Mon-Thu: 10 AM – 7PM
Fri-Sun: 10 AM – 4PM
This program is supported in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, In partnership with the City Council

Reception:

Saturday, May 17th, 2pm – 4pm
Free and open to the public
Refreshments will be provided

Artist Bio:

Leon was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but his photography started years later and 2,800 miles away in Costa Mesa, California when Leon decided to attend night school to occupy some of his free time.

Leon regretted not having many photos of his childhood, and it motivated him to study photography at Orange Coast College from 1982-1987. Among the many instructors he had were John Upton and Doug Jones.

Upton taught with incredible enthusiasm and his wealth of knowledge inspired passion in his students. Jones was a staff photographer for Look magazine whose weekly slideshows of his assignments around the world encouraged creative adventure. The influence of these two men became the basis of Leon’s photographic style.

Leon’s passion for photography and people made him a natural street photographer. He moved back to New York City in the late 1980s and his photography flourished with the help of B&H Photo, Nikon cameras, Ilford photo paper, the International Center for Photography (ICP), the Brooklyn Museum, the Snug Harbor Art Lab, Vinnie the developer, and a dark room in his basement for the next 40 years.