Leisa Corbett

Artist Statement

Leisa was born in Saint Louis, MO. She began drawing in earnest at age 7 and earn an Associate degree in Art at Saint Louis Community College. She served eight years in the U.S. Army and trained as a Military Intelligence specialist and German linguist. While stationed in Berlin, Germany, she earned her Bachelor's degree in art history. Leisa exhibited and sold her paintings in local galleries and had a business conducting tours of Berlin art museums for English speakers.

Upon her return to United States, sh earned an MFA in Visual Art from Vermont College of the Fine Arts. After graduation, she worked three years for Golden Artists Colors, giving workshops and technical lectures. For seven years, she taught art history, art appreciation, drawing and painting at community colleges in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area. She has exhibited her work in commercial and university galleries and juried exhibitions in Europe and the United States. Leisa has received the Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjunct Faculty at North Lake College (in Irving, TX) for 2005-2006.

In 2018 and 2019, she won an Award of Excellence for her painting from the Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists and an Award of Excellence at the Recent Works 2018 exhibit at the College of Lake County, IL. In 2010, Leisa became an artist member and later, co-director of the Dandelion Gallery in Waukegan, IL. She now lives in Waukegan because it has become an artist enclave with inspiring creative energy.