Altered Rock
Dennis Leon (1933 1998) was born in london, england, and received his bfa, bs, and mfa from temple university in philadelphia, pa. An artist and educator, leon consistently explored the subject of the natural landscape. He was first inspired as a child by the moors of yorkshire and then by his subsequent travels throughout the united states and abroad. His body of work includes site-specific installations, collage, drawings, pastels, and sculpture in wood and bronze. In each case, the landscape, natural forms and textures, and the artists relationship to them were of central focus. Leons work deals with the themes of surface and physicality, timelessness and monumentality, memory and imagination, and mystery and surprise. Dennis leon died in 1998 at the of 65.
Luther burbank center for the arts is pleased to include five of dennis leons works as part of its permanent collection. In addition to the artwork displayed here, two pieces can be found along the sidewalk on the south side of the center and another in the sculpture courtyard.
This work is the generous gift of Joan Leon and Ramon Jimenez and their daughters, Ann Leon and Susan Peterson.
PIECE | Altered Rock
LOCATION | North Atrium
DESCRIPTION | 1989 Wood
DIMENSIONS | 115” x 112” x 84”
ARTIST | Dennis Leon (1933-1998)