Leo Fortune

Visual artist, author, illustrator and educator based in Minneapolis, MN

leofortuneart@gmail.com  @leofortuneart 

Education

2008 MEd, Second Languages and Cultures, University of MN, Minneapolis, MN

2006 BA, Spanish and Global Studies, University of MN, Minneapolis, MN

2001-2003 BA started, Interior Design, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Generative Work

PUBLISHED WORKS

December, 2024

  • ¿Los árboles hablan - los escuchas? Trees Talk - Are You Listening?

  • Illustrator and Author

  • Bilingual Children’s Book

  • Self Published - PrintNinja 

ART FAIRS

October, 2024

  • St. Paul Fall Art Crawl

  • Watercolor on canvas with a matte finish

  • F-O-K Studios, Saint Paul, MN

August, 2024

  • Art In The Garden

  • Mixed media on canvas and paper

  • Arboretum, Chaska, MN

April, 2024

  • St. Paul Art Crawl

  • Watercolor on canvas with a matte finish

  • F-O-K Studios, Saint Paul, MN

JURIED ART FAIRS

May, 2025

  • Art-A-Whirl

  • Mixed media on canvas and paper

  • Quincy Hall, Minneapolis, MN

April, 2025

  • St. Paul Art Crawl

  • Mixed media on canvas and paper

  • Heart Market: Healing and Art Rathskeller - Schmidt, St. Paul, MN

February, 2025

  • Arboretum February Art Fair

  • Mixed media on canvas and paper

  • Arboretum, Chaska, MN

August, 2024

  • Powderhorn Art Fair

  • Mixed media on canvas and paper

  • Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, MN

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

October 4 - November 15, 2024

  • FOK Studios: Art Tells A Story - messages hidden or overt

  • Within and Without (2024, 18” x 24” watercolor on paper)

JURIED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

April 3 - May 11, 2025

  • ArtReach St Croix: Mental Health, Finding Creative Solace

  • (That Time) I Got You (2024, 11” x 15” watercolor on paper)

  • That Healing Power (2024, 9” x 12” watercolor on paper)

March 21 - March 23, 2024

  • Paganican Gallery: Passages to Spiritual Discovery

  • Support (2024, 18” x 24” watercolor on canvas)

  • Wisdom (2024, 24” x 18” watercolor on canvas)

  • That Connection Feeling (2024, 15” x 11” watercolor on paper)

February 23 - April 27, 2025

  • The Sower Gallery: Building Bridges - of brick & mortar and of heart & mind 

  • That Third Space (2024, 11” x 15” watercolor on paper)

  • That Winter Vibe (2024, 11” x 15” watercolor on paper)

  • That Little Heart of Mine (2024, 11” x 15” watercolor on paper)

February 8 - March 30, 2025

  • Lanesboro Arts Early Career Artist Exhibition

  • (That Time) I Got You (2024, 11” x 15” watercolor on paper)

  • (That Time) I Needed A Reminder (2024, 9” x 12” watercolor on paper)

  • Within And Without (2024, 18” x 24” watercolor on paper)

  • Hand Holding (2024, 30” x 40” watercolor on canvas)

  • Help Is There (2024, 9” x 12” watercolor on paper)

December, 2024

  • Ten Moir Gallery: Landscape Virtual Art Exhibition

  • Shine (2024, 12” x 9” watercolor on paper)

September 29 - December 20, 2024

  • The Sower Gallery: Magical, Mystical & Just Plain Cool

  • Frequency (2024, 12” x 9” watercolor on canvas)

  • Linking (2024, 24” x 18” watercolor on canvas)

Other Visual Art Experience

April 19, 2025

  • ¿Los árboles hablan - los escuchas? Trees Talk - Are You Listening?

  • Bilingual Book Reading Event

  • Queerspace Collective, Minneapolis, MN

April 10, 2025

  • ¿Los árboles hablan - los escuchas? Trees Talk - Are You Listening?

  • Bilingual Book Reading Event

  • St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN

March 15, 2025

  • ¿Los árboles hablan - los escuchas? Trees Talk - Are You Listening?

  • Bilingual Book Reading Event

  • Queermunity, Minneapolis, MN

January, 2025

  • ¿Los árboles hablan - los escuchas? Trees Talk - Are You Listening?

  • Exhibition of illustrated originals

  • Watercolor on canvas and paper

  • Claddagh Coffee, Saint Paul, MN

January 4, 2025

  • ¿Los árboles hablan - los escuchas? Trees Talk - Are You Listening?

  • Bilingual Book Reading Event

  • Moonstone Mpls, Minneapolis, MN

Sept - Dec, 2024

  • Minneapolis Craft Market

  • Silverwood Park, Machine Shop, Bruhaven, Wagners

  • Minneapolis, MN

May, 2024

  • Tree and Person -ification?

  • Watercolor on canvas with a matte finish

  • Odigo Wellness, Minneapolis, MN

April, 2024

  • Fae Folk

  • Watercolor on canvas with a matte finish

  • Claddagh Coffee, Saint Paul, MN

September, 2023

  • Taking Up Space

  • Watercolor on paper

  • Great River Montessori School, Saint Paul, MN

Art and Language Teaching

2008-present

  • EL & Spanish Language Arts Educator

  • Minneapolis Public Schools (14 yrs)

  • Great River Montessori School (2 yrs)

  • Hsinchu Taiwan International School (1 yr)

June, 2024

  • Observational Drawing

  • Project #natureartitforward 

  • Great River Montessori School, Saint Paul, MN

2022-2023

  • Observational Drawing

  • Como Conservatory

  • Great River Montessori School, Saint Paul, MN

2011-2013

  • Observational Drawing

  • EL Science Education

  • Andersen United School, Minneapolis, MN

Works In Progress

2024-present

  • Untitled Graphic Novel

  • Watercolor markers, ink and acrylic on watercolor paper or canvas with a matte finish

2024-present

  • The Land of And

  • Children’s Book

  • Watercolor markers, ink and acrylic on watercolor paper or canvas with a matte finish

Awards, Fellowships and Residencies

March 6, 2025

  • Lanesboro Mini Artist Residency

  • Half day artist talks in the arts classroom at Lanesboro Public Schools 

December, 2024

  • Ten Moir Gallery

  • Landscape Virtual Art Exhibition

  • FINALIST - Shine 

  • (2024, 12” x 9” watercolor on paper)

November, 2024

  • MN Hockey Rec League

  • MN Hockey Rec League Design Contest

  • WINNER - Constellation (2024, 12” x 9” watercolor and marker on paper)

November, 2024 to present

  • Art To Change The World

  • Active Member

  • Salon at HQ Coordinator

  • Flux Garden Fling - Project Manager Assistant

  • Book Reading Event - Facilitator

  • Flux Frost Fest - Interactive Activity Facilitator