LESLIE PINO DURANT 303.880.5274 / LesliePinoDurant@gmail.com / www.LesliePinoDurant.com / 

ARTIST STATEMENT

As a mixed media artist, I channel a rollercoaster of emotions into my work, reveling in the joy of creating something entirely new. My process is spontaneous and uncharted, fueled by the thrill of exploration and discovery. Each piece begins with vibrant chaos — collage, mark-making, and texture — then gradually moves toward structure as the story emerges. Bright acrylics, bold shapes, and layered surfaces become my language for expressing the full spectrum of human feeling.

At the heart of my work are strong women — often in groups — standing together in solidarity, friendship, and sisterhood. They appear in their finest, dressed in radiant colors, embodying resilience, beauty, and mutual support. These figures are more than portraits; they are testaments to connection, empowerment, and shared strength.

I draw inspiration from artists like Shara Hughes, Andrew Salgado, and Jose Cacho, whose lively colors and provocative imagery resonate in my work. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s fearless strokes and raw energy influence my own bold, intuitive approach. My subjects range from figures and words to animals and florals, each holding an untold narrative.

While the act of creation in my studio is deeply personal, my work truly comes alive when it connects with others. I hope viewers find fragments of their own stories in the layered colors and textures — moments of recognition, empowerment, or joy hidden in the sometimes colorful chaos.

BIOGRAPHY

Leslie Pino Durant (Belen, New Mexico, USA) is a mixed-media artist based in Placitas, New Mexico. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Leslie began painting in her late 40s as a therapeutic outlet to calm her mind and body. What began as a personal refuge soon blossomed into a transformative journey of artistic exploration, learning, and growth.

Her creative process is rooted in vibrant layers of collage, drips of acrylic paint, pencil marks, and stencils. From these spontaneous beginnings, Leslie shifts into a more intentional phase, carefully refining composition, color, and value to shape each piece. Between layers, she pauses to reflect and envision, allowing images to manifest organically before they emerge fully on the canvas. The culmination of this process is always the most exhilarating part—sharing her work with others.

At the heart of Leslie’s art are strong women—figures who embody solidarity, friendship, and sisterhood. These women are often portrayed in bright, bold colors, surrounded by flourishing flowers that symbolize beauty, resilience, and connection. Since debuting her work in 2020, Leslie has exhibited in galleries, online platforms, publications, and across social media. Her art has graced the cover of The International Journal of MS Care and has been featured in the MSAA Art Showcases (2020-2025).

Every day in the studio, Leslie approaches her work with gratitude and passion, pouring her heart and soul into each piece. In addition to her artistic endeavors, she serves as the Social Media Specialist for the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

REPRESENTATION

Patrician Design
216 Gold St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
 www.patriciandesign.com /505-242-7646

Art-o-mat®
www.artomat.org

GROUP AND JURIED EXHIBITIONS 

2025 - End of Year Art Show / The 8th House / Albuquerque, NM

2025 - Smallish (juried) / The Groove Artspace / Albuquerque, NM

2025 - The 8th House: ANTIQUES | VINTAGE | FINE ART : September 2025 Feature Artist / The 8th House / Albuquerque, NM

2025 - Another Exceptional Women’s Art Show: Expect the Unexpected / Old Walls Gallery / Albuquerque, NM

2025 - Bright and Bold / 3017 Gallery / Albuquerque

2025 - Las Damas, Inside the Studios (juried) / Muses Santa Fe / Santa Fe, NM

2025 - Fun-a-Day / Fourteenfifteen Gallery / Albuquerque, NM

2025 - Lovers / Old Walls Gallery / Albuquerque, NM

2025 MSAA Art Showcase - Online Showcase of Art Created by Artists with Multiple Sclerosis / https://mymsaa.org/artshowcase2025/leslie-pino-durant/

2024 - Small Works (juried) / New Mexico Art League / Albuquerque, NM

2024 - Senses (juried) / Art Mozaik Fine Art Gallery / Santa Fe, NM

2024 - R3SI$T! (juried) / Old Walls Gallery / Albuquerque, NM

2024 - Rejects! (juried) / Tortuga Gallery / Albuquerque, NM

2024 - Vibrant / Art Moziak Fine Art Gallery / Santa Fe, NM

2024 Outside the Box (juried) / New Mexico Art League / Albuquerque, NM

2024 Go Sports / 3017 Gallery / Albuquerque, NM

2024 Our America: A Tapestry of Cultural Diversity / Placitas Community Library / Placitas, NM

2024 Rituals for Now / Fourteenfifteen Gallery / Albuquerque, NM 

2024 MSAA Art Showcase - Online Showcase of Art Created by Artists with Multiple Sclerosis / https://mymsaa.org/artshowcase2024/leslie-pino-durant/ 

2023 MSAA Art Showcase - Online Showcase of Art Created by Artists with Multiple Sclerosis / https://mymsaa.org/artshowcase2023/leslie-pino-durant/ 

2022 Community Gallery Night / Hub City Art Collective / Belen, NM

2022 MSAA Art Showcase - Online Showcase of Art Created by Artists with Multiple Sclerosis / https://mymsaa.org/artshowcase2022/leslie-pino-durant/ 

March/April 2021 COVER ART / International Journal of MS Care

2021 MSAA Art Showcase - Online Showcase of Art Created by Artists with Multiple Sclerosis / https://mymsaa.org/artshowcase2021/leslie-pino-durant/ 

2020 MSAA Art Showcase - Online Showcase of Art Created by Artists with Multiple Sclerosis / https://mymsaa.org/artshowcase2020/entrants/leslie-pino-durant/