Brevard Art Museum hosts Leo Monahan ~ World-renowned Paper Sculptor

Written by Barney Compton Sunday, 02 October 2011 20:34

Melbourne, FL – As a pioneer in the realm of paper sculptures, Leo F. Monahan blends impressionism and surrealism to create unique, intricate reliefs. For close to 50 years Monahan has immersed himself in the paper sculpture-collage medium, as a graphic designer and as an artist.  He and his most recent exhibition come to the Brevard Art Museum April 25 to June 15, 2008.  Monahan will personally lead a demonstration and gallery walk on Friday, April 25 at 4 p.m. followed by the opening reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Born in 1933 in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Monahan has fond memories of life as a boy among the miners, loggers, cowboys, farmers, and the Sioux Indians in his artwork. This exhibition features Monahan’s series of sea life, birds and mammals incarnated as color wheels.

His career in graphic design, and a relationship with Disney enterprises, began at Choinard Art Institute, when he received the first Disney Scholarship to attend the school. In 1960 he graduated, began a career in graphic design and made his first paper sculpture. Since 1987 he has worked solely as a paper sculptor - as an artist and an illustrator.

Generally using Strathmore 2-ply and 3-ply kid finish papers and a knife, Monahan tears and cuts the paper into three-dimensional sculptures to which he applies color with an arsenal of techniques.  His paper sculpture is featured in the Smithsonian's permanent collection, and he is the past president of the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, serving three terms. The Society presented him with a "Lifetime Achievement Award", their highest honor.

He is also a member of the Society of Illustrators of New York and of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, a 45-year participant of the U.S. Air Force documentary art program and the founder of the L.A. County Sheriff’s documentary art program. He has taught at Chouinard Art Institute, California Institute of Art, Tokyo Communication Arts, the Chouinard Foundation, Disney and USC. He has served as a Disney contractor, and had access to the model shops and specialized techniques used for set construction for Disney amusement parks.

About the Museum
The Brevard Art Museum is a non-profit organization supported in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Brevard County through the Brevard Cultural Alliance; Brevard County Tourist Development Council; and by members of the Brevard Art Museum.

Location: 1463 Highland Avenue in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne, (321) 242-0737 / www.brevardartmuseum.org.

Hours:      Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

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