Leonard Mizerek, born in Philadelphia, nurtured his artistic love of nature while growing up in the Brandywine Valley. As a young boy, he often went painting along the Brandywine River, deriving inspiration from the countryside of nearby Pennsylvania. His early influence was with the Brandywine School. He graduated with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and studied at The New York Students League under nationally known artist, Nelson Shanks. He also studied at the National Academy of Design under internationally known artist, Raymond Kinstler.Leonard, known for his colorful seascapes, paints on site from nearby coastal locations as well as harbors throughout the world. Leonard was one of the 15 artists selected to paint at the Forbes Ranch in Colorado; subsequently his work was exhibited in the Forbes Museum of New York and made part of the Forbes permanent collection. He was featured on the August 2001 cover of American Artist Magazine. Recently, he was invited as one of 23 nationally recognized contemporary marine artists to exhibit in a special three-museum exhibition, which toured New England to the Newport Art Museum, the Maine Maritime Museum and Connecticut River Museum. In addition, he exhibited in the Coos Bay Museum of Fine Art and the Cape Museum of Fine Art.
Leonard was recently selected as one of 70 members of the prestigious Guild of Boston Artists. He was awarded Fellowship, the highest honor as one of only 22, in The American Society of Marine Artists.
Some of Mizerek’s past exhibitions have included: The American Society of Marine Artists Exhibitions at the FirstUSA Riverfornt Arts Center, Wilmington, DE; The Frye Museum of Art, Seattle, WA; The Mariner’s Museum, Norfolk, VA; The Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL; San Diego Maritime Museum and The Mystic Seaport Museum. He has exhibited in the Annual Mystic International since 1988 and the Annual Modern Marine Masters Exhibitions since 1995 at Mystic Seaport; two exhibitions at the National Academy of Design in New York; The Rocky Mountain Exhibition; First Place in the Sea Heritage Marine Exhibition; The International Society of Marine Painters and numerous national exhibitions.