Selected Solo Exhibitions
2022
Don’t let the sun, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
An Intimate Grammar, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville, TN
2021
Neuro Blooms, Beautiful Distress House, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Neuro Blooms, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD
2020
Neuro Blooms, Stamp Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
2019
Neuro Blooms, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Arlington, VA
Hysterical Women, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2017
Unspeakable, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
Brain Stains, NIH Clinical Center Gallery, Bethesda, MD
2016
Unspeakable, 39th Street Gallery, Brentwood, MD
2015
Hello Masterpiece: Farewell Tour, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville, TN
2013
Help Yourself, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
Hello Masterpiece Denouement, Burnet Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2012
Hello Masterpiece, Sarratt Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
2011
Hello Pablo, Goodbye Liz, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2010
Hello Modern Art, PHD Gallery St. Louis, MO
Hello Masterpiece, Burnett Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Unholy Ghosts, Mountain Gallery, Reno, NV
2009
Hello Masterpiece Curator’s Office, Washington, DC
Hello Masterpiece, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis
2008
Hello Masterpiece, PHD Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Hello Masterpiece, Firehouse Gallery, Grants Pass, OR
2006
See Through, Bonsack Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2005
Effective Disorder, College of the Siskiyous Art Gallery, Weed, CA
Selected Group Exhibits
2023
(Not) Strictly Painting, McClean Project for the Arts, McClean VA
DC Art Now, DC Arts and Humanities Council, Washington, DC
2021
Inside Outside, Upside Down, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC
2020
Heed, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2019
Fable David Lusk Gallery, Nashville, TN
2018
Soft Serve, Willow Street Gallery, Washington, DC
Shameless, Red Dirt Studio Gallery, Mt. Rainier, MD
Methods of Inquiry: Fields of Discovery, McClean Project for the Arts, McClean, VA
Gallery Artists, Hall-Barnett Gallery, New Orleans
2016
Show of Hand, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville, TN
2015
Emulsion, Gallery H on O, Washington, DC
Mash Up, David Lusk Gallery, Nashville, TN
2014
Strange Bedfellows, VisArts, Rockville, MD
20 Year Anniversary Exhibit, Firehouse Gallery, Grants Pass, OR
2013
Art Miami, David Lusk Gallery
2012
Context- Art Miami, Curator’s Office
Art Miami, David Lusk Gallery
ARTMKT Hamptons, David Lusk Gallery
2011
Art Miami, David Lusk Gallery
2009
Art Miami, David Lusk Gallery
Finding Grace Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis, MO
You Think that’s Funny? Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
2008
Mixology Curator’s Office
Scope New York, Curator’s Office
Ensemble, PHD Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2007
Aqua Art Fair, Curator’s Office
American Democracy Project, Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis, MO
Scope Hampton, Curator’s Office
DC Art Fair, Curator’s Office
Dislocations, Ann Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD
2006
Time’s Body of Evidence, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Layered, Stitched, Assembled, Art St. Louis Gallery (honor award recipient)
2005
Unholy Icons, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD
Sense of Place, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta, GA
Art St. Louis XXI, Art St. Louis Gallery, St. Louis, MO (honor award recipient)
2004
Pop, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
Body Politics, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
WSU Fine Art Faculty, Fina Gallery, Okanagan University College, Kelowna, B.C.
2003
Popular TM, WORKS Gallery, San Jose, CA
Press and Publications
Last Chance: Don’t Let the Sun, Memphis Flyer, May 2022
Embracing Your Strangeness, The Luxembourg Times, August, 2021
Social and Political Art Takes Over Nashville’s Gallery Walls, Nashville Scene, August 2020
David Lusk Gallery Exhibit Looks Closely at the History of “Hysterical Women,” The Tennessean, February 2019
New American Paintings, No. 130, Southern Issue, 2017
In the Galleries: Unspeakable, Washington Post, June 2016
Leslie Holt’s Unspeakable Discussed, East City Art blog, June 2016
Hello Kitty as Sympathizer and Provocateur, Bmoreart.com, February 2015
Field Notes - Leslie Holt, Nashville Arts magazine, May 2014
The Diadem Interview, medium.com December 2013
Work featured in Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty's Trek across the Pacific by Christine R. Yano, Duke University Press. 2013
Critics Picks: Leslie Holt: Hello Masterpiece, Nashville Scene, September 2012
Hello Masterpiece, Minnesota Public Radio “State of the Arts,” November 19, 2010
The Five Spot, Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 27, 2010
Leslie Holt at Curator’s Office, Washington Post July 17, 2009
Art History gets Cute, Express Night Out, Washington, DC July 2009
Art with a Purrpose, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 2008
Hello Kitty Travels the World of Art, St. Louis South City Journal, May 2008
Hello Masterpiece: Miniature Oil Paintings by Leslie Holt, St. Louis Magazine, May 2008
Art of Survival: Women, Healing, and the Arts, Publisher: Elka Books, 2006.
Twilight Symphony: Healing Time’s Body of Evidence, Dayton City Paper, September 2006.
Health, Aging Issues Examined at Wright State, Dayton Daily News, September 2006
References are personal in Holt’s Art, Herald Press News, Jan 26, 2005
Leap Year by Alexandra Bellos, Riverfront Times, St. Louis, MO, 1995
Women’s Work by Alexandra Bellos, Riverfront Times, St. Louis, MO, 1994
Community Projects
2023-24
Neuro Blooms in Schools: Your brain is beautiful. Multi faceted project in five Prince Georges County high schools in partnership with school board members, student leaders and student support services staff. Elements include large scale decal installation in entry ways of each school, hands on art activities, presentations during mental health awareness month, and participation in the student member of the board’s mental health summit.
2022
Neuro Blooms in St. Louis. Installation of 40 large Neuro Blooms decals in business windows on a commercial street in St. Louis. Clients of Peter and Paul Community Services for the homeless assisted with installation. The decals were accompanied by information decals and a QR code that linked to a website with local mental health resources. The project also included two art workshops for the neighborhood and a talk for Peter and Paul staff.
2021
Neuro Blooms in Amsterdam. Installation of large Neuro Blooms decals and information panels in the windows of Centrum Mental Health Center in downtown Amsterdam. The installation was in conjunction with a solo exhibit at the Beautiful Distress gallery. The project included presentations to patients of the center.
Teaching Experience
Fontbonne University St. Louis, MO, Lecturer
Spring 2005 – Summer 2020: Online Art Appreciation, Art History Survey I and II
Catholic Charities of Washington Washington, DC
August 2016 – 2020: Weekly art class for adults with severe mental illness
Prince Georges County Parks and Recreation Council Greenbelt, MD, Teaching Artist
January 2014– 2021: Group classes for teens and adults with disabilities
Art Works Now Mt. Rainier, MD, Teaching Artist
March 2013 – May 2017: Group and individual classes for people with disabilities and seniors
Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL, Adjunct Instructor
Fall 2007- Fall 2011: Online Art Appreciation, Figure Drawing, Design I and II
St. Louis Community College at Meramec Adjunct Instructor
Fall 2005 – Spring 2008: Design I, Design II, Drawing I
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Adjunct Instructor
Spring - Fall 2005: Intro to Painting
Washington State University Pullman, WA, Adjunct Instructor, Instructor of Record
Fall 2001 – Spring 2004: 2D Design, Intro to Drawing, Intro to Figure Drawing, Advanced Figure Drawing, Intro to Painting
Additional Professional Experience
Red Dirt Studio, Mt. Rainier, MD
Co-director of studio of 30 artists and other creative professionals. February 2015 - present
Art Works Now Mt. Rainier, MD
Part time grant writer. March 2013- May 2014
VSA Missouri, the state organization on arts and disability
Executive Director. Statewide organization that promotes access to the arts for people with disabilities. November 2010 – May 2012
Board President. August 2009-November 2010
Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO
Program Coordinator. Pediatricians in Community. January 2006 – October 2010
Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NAMI St. Louis, MO
Family Support Specialist; Director of Advocacy October 2004 – January 2006
St. Louis Community College St. Louis, MO
TANF Student Advocate for students receiving welfare benefits 1998-2001
Places for People St. Louis, MO
Community Support Worker for adults with serious and persistent mental illness 1994-1997
Life Skills Foundation, Inc St. Louis MO
Part-time Residential Instructor for adults with developmental disabilities 1992-1996
Education
MFA, Painting, Washington State University Pullman, WA 2003
BFA, Painting, Washington University St. Louis, MO 1992