LESLIE BELLAVANCE
Ada, Michigan
  
CURRENT POSITION
Professor Emeritus, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University

POSITIONS
President, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University

Dean, Director of Graduate Programs and Professor, 
School of Art and Design
, the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University



Director and Professor, School of Art and Art History, James Madison University

Professor, Department of Visual Art, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  Also: Interim Associate Dean; Director of Graduate Studies; Head of  
  Photography; Associated Faculty in Women's Studies; Advisor and Faculty in
  the Master of Liberal Studies Program.

EDUCATION
University of Chicago, Master of Fine Arts 

Tyler School of Art of Temple University, Bachelor of Fine Arts 

  
FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS, GRANTS, HONORS
Mary Nohl Foundation, exhibition support

Jentel Foundation, Banner, Wyoming, Residency

The Center for Women’s Studies, U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Fellowship

Cream City Editions, Brookfield, Wisconsin. Artist-in-Residence

The Center for 21st Century Studies, U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Fellowships

Nexus Press, Atlanta, Georgia, Artist Initiated Project

National Endowment for the Arts, Fellowship 

Wisconsin Arts Board, Individual Artist’s Project Support Grants

Wisconsin Arts Board, Fellowship
Milwaukee Artists Foundation, Individual Artist Grant 

Madison Art Center, Purchase Award 


 
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
The Fed Galleries, Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Undone (retrospective), 2015.
The Darrin-McHone Gallery at The Smith House, Arts Council of the Valley, Harrisonburg, Virginia 2010. 

inova, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Leslie Bellavance, 2004.

Villa Terrace Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Bower, 2003.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Tense: New Work by Leslie Bellavance, catalogue, 1994-5.

Gallery 400, The University of Illinois at Chicago: Faint/feint with P. Berkman, P. Krainak, and M. Itatani, 1995.

Glass Gallery, Hanes Art Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Touching Tongues, 1991.

Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay: Common Knowledge, 1990.
Woodland Pattern, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Volumes, 1989.
Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Taking the Shadow for Substance, collaborative installations with M. Groshek, 1989.
Gardiner Art Gallery, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater: Domestic Series, 1988.
Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois: Natural Wonder, catalogue, 1987.
Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan: Leslie Bellavance, 1986. 

Michael Lord Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Nature Studies: Landscape Series, 1985.
Woodland Pattern Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Nature Studies, installation, 1985.
Perihelion Galleries, Lincoln Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Self Portrait as a Nurse, 1981-1984, 1984.
Book Space, Chicago, Illinois: Leslie Bellavance, 1982.

 
SELECTED GROUP AND INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS 

Fosdick Nelson Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, New York: Exploding Boundaries, 2013.
He Xiangning Art Museum, China: The Logic of Paper – American Works on Paper, catalogue, 2011.
1708, Richmond, Virginia: Small Wonders, 2009.

Capital One, Richmond, Virginia, 2009.
H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art, Carthage College, Chopmark II, 2005. 

Fairfield Center for Contemporary Art, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Digital Photography, 2005.
Michael Lord Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2003.
Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, The Mediated Image, 2003.

Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Click!, 2002.

Palazzo Casali, Cortona, Italy: Incrocio/Crossroad, 2001.
Haggerty Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Four Milwaukee Photographers, 2001.

Frederick Layton Gallery, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design: Faint/feint with P. Berkman, P. Krainak, and M. Itatani, 1999.
Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, The Book: Form and Function, 1997.
Fassbender Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Constellations, 1996.
Creative Arts Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown: Gender Constructions, 1993.

Oliver Art Center, California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, California: Image/Object/Place, catalogue, 1991.

Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: Drawing On, 1991.

Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Contextual, 1991.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Word as Image: American Art 1960-1990, catalogue with reproduction, 1990. Traveling to:
Oklahoma City Art Museum, 1990.
Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Texas, 1991.

Rymer Gallery, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Charged Spaces: Stressed Sites in the Body Politic, collaborative installation with Matthew Groshek, 1989. 

A. R. C. Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Women by Women, 1989.
Randolph Gallery, The Chicago Cultural Center: Persuasive Views, 1988-89.

Klein Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: A Kiss is Just a Kiss, AIDS benefit exhibition, 1989.

First Bank Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Recent Color Photography from the First Bank Collection, 1988.

Artworks, Los Angeles, California, 1988.

333 Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Individuals, 1988.

Theater X, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Museum of Sexuality, 1987.

Fine Arts Galleries, UWM Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 
Women’s Autobiographical Artists’ Books, catalogue with reproduction, 1987.

Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Graftings, 1987.

Cultural Department, Kassel, Germany: Sky Writing: Dimensions of a Transient Medium, catalogue with reproduction, 1986.

International Art Expo at Navy Pier (Michael Lord Gallery), Chicago: 1985 and 1986.

N. A. M. E. Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Four Artists/Four Walls, 1985.

Bookspace, Chicago, Illinois: Altered Art Reproductions, 1984.
Michael Lord Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: New Talent, 1984.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Wisconsin Directions 4, catalogue with reproduction, 1984.

Perihelion Galleries, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Nature Studies, installation, 1984.

New Art Examiner, Chicago, Illinois (national circulation): Artists’ Pages, 1983.

Randolph Street Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Outdoor Installations, 1983.

Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, Minnesota: Upper Midwest Photography Invitational, 1983.

International Art Expo at Navy Pier (West Hubbard Gallery), Chicago: 1982.
West Hubbard Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Artists’ Resources, 1982.

Woodland Pattern, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Billboard, outdoor installation, 1982.

Milwaukee Public Library: 20 Wisconsin Women in Photography, 1982.

Perihelion Galleries, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Leslie Bellavance / Janice Snyder, 1982.

West Hubbard Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Leslie Bellavance /Cyrilla Power /Virginia Woods, 1982.


 
LECTURES, PANELS, WORKSHOPS 

University of Wisconsin-Madison, China Bridge Symposium, Documenting Change: Capturing Place, Time and Transformation through Rephotography, panel participant, 2013.
Weber State University, Department of Visual Arts, Ogden, Utah, 2005. Visiting artist and public lecture.

Center for 21st Century Studies, Museums and Difference conference, UWM, 2003. Moderator/Respondent, Public and Private panel: Anne Higgonet, Mark Sandberg, and Christopher Steiner.

Villa Terrace Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Bower, 2003.

Click! Conference, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay: Threshold, 2002.
Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA: Visiting Artist, 2001.

Cortona International Print Symposium, University of Georgia, Cortona Italy: Written on the Body, panelist, 2001.

Nexus Press, Atlanta, Georgia: Analemmic, 1997.

Book Forum, UWM Art Department, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Analemmic, 1997. 

Scholar in the Library Series, Golda Meir Library, 1996.

Gallery 400, University of Illinois at Chicago, Faint/feint, 1995.

Oxbow, Saugatuck, Michigan: Visiting Artist, 1995.

Society for Photographic Education, Midwest Conference, Kansas City, Missouri: Text and Photography, panelist, 1991.

College Art Association National Conference, Washington, D.C., Body Count, panelist, 1991.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Center for Twentieth Century Studies, Touching and Being Touched, 1990.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Visiting Artist, 1990.

Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Chicago Semester in the Arts Program, Visiting Artist, 1990.
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design: Issues in Presentation, Alternatives to the Object, panelist 1989.

Michael Lord Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: presented lecture, Feminist Art, 1989.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Charges Spaces, panelist, 1989.

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma: Visiting Artist, 1988.

The State of Illinois Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: “Good Painting”, panelist, 1988.

West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia: Visiting Artist Series, 1988.

Society for Photographic Education, Midwest Conference, Columbia College, Chicago: speaker and panel coordinator, 1987.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Artists’ Forum, speaker, 1986.

Fine Arts Galleries, UWM Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Color Photography as a Work of Art, 1985.

Wisconsin Art Education Conference, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: presented lecture, Nature Studies, 1984.

Union Art Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: coordinated a symposium on erotic art and presented lecture, Photography and Erotic Pictures, 1984.

Oxbow School of Painting, Saugatuck, Michigan: Artist-in-Residence, 1983 - 1984.

University of Wisconsin Extension, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Natural Landscape and the Photograph, speaker and panelist, 1982. 



 
PUBLICATIONS 

Books
Bellavance, Leslie. analemmic, Nexus Press, Atlanta, Georgia, 1997.


 
Essays and Articles
Bellavance, Leslie, Outside In: Reflections on a Collection, Ceramophile, the Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art Newsletter, Alfred University, Vol. XXII, Number 1, Spring 2011,
Bellavance, Leslie, Abstract, Clarence Morgan: Notes and Ideas, exhibition essay, James Madison University, 2010
Bellavance, Leslie, Post-Hero, Men and Boys, catalogue essay, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2004.

Bellavance, Leslie, The Eye and the Beholder, Carol Emmons, catalogue essay, Peninsula Art School, Wisconsin, 2004

Bellavance, Leslie, Museumania, Art Papers, Atlanta, April, 2003

Bellavance, Leslie. On the Wall, Southern Graphics Council Newsletter, 2001.

Bellavance, Leslie and Matthew Groshek, The Work of Wonder, Art Muscle, April, 1992.

Bellavance, Leslie. Alone Together. Sculpture Magazine, 1992.

Bellavance, Leslie. “The Tragedy of Misconception”*, Art Muscle, November, 1987.

Bellavance, Leslie. Color Photography as a Work of Art, Color Photography: New Work,Milwaukee: Fine Arts Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, catalogue essay, 1985.

Bellavance, Leslie. Tech Art Tamed in Devices Show. New Art Examiner, November, 1983.

Bellavance, Leslie. Projections, Chicago: West Hubbard Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, catalogue essay, 1982.


 
Reviews
Wisconsin Editor for The New Art Examiner, 1982 - 1885. Critical reviews, 1980 - 1985.

Bellavance, Leslie. Ellen Land-Weber at Zolla/ Lieberman Gallery, Chicago. New Art Examiner, January, 1981.

Bellavance, Leslie. Holoworks at Rizzoli Gallery, Chicago. New Art Examiner, April 1981.

Bellavance, Leslie. Wolf Kahlen: Photobooks at the Goethe Institute, Chicago. New Art Examiner, March 1981.

Bellavance, Leslie. Photographers Invite Photographers at N.A.M.E. Gallery, Chicago. New Art Examiner, April 1983.

Bellavance, Leslie. Robert Adams at the Milwaukee Art Museum. New Art Examiner, May 1983.


 
CURATORIAL
The Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, Alfred University, co-curator
of Twenty with Susan Kowalczyk, 2011.
Sawhill Gallery, James Madison University, co-curator of Clarence Morgan: Notes and Ideas, with Gary Freeburg, 2010.
Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Guest Curator of Men and Boys, 2004.

Gallery Paradiso, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Guest Curator of The World, 2003.

Golda Meir Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Guest Curator of The Photograph as Book, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Woodland Pattern Book Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Guest Curator of Nexus Press at Woodland Pattern, 1994.

West Hubbard Gallery, Chicago, Illinois: Co-Curator, with Christopher English and Helen Harvey Mills, of Projections, 1982.

Fine Arts Galleries, UWM Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Guest Curator of Color Photography: New Work, 1985.

Union Art Gallery, UWM, Milwaukee Wisconsin: Guest Curator of Light Reversals, 1985. Union Art Gallery, UWM, Milwaukee Wisconsin: Guest Curator of Alternatives, 1987. 


 
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Archer, Nuala, ed. Midland Review, # 1. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University Press, 1985.
Auer, James. The Artist as Nurse. The Milwaukee Journal, 18 November, 1984.
Auer, James. Ourselves Viewing Ourselves. The Milwaukee Journal, May 1989.
Auer, James. Bower. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, April, 2003.
Barilleaux, Rene Paul, David Berreth, Katheryn Howarth Ryan. Wisconsin Triennial. Madison: Madison Art Center, 1990.
Behrens, Roy R. Illustration as an Art. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1986.
Bowman, Russel. WD4. Milwaukee: Milwaukee Art Museum, 1984.
Brush, Gloria DeFilipps. Upper Midwest Photography Invitational. Duluth: Tweed Museum of Art, 1983.
Burkart, Kenneth C. Persuasive Views. Chicago: Chicago Public Library Cultural Center, 1988.
Douglas, Diane. Leslie Bellavance. New Art Examiner, March, 1984.
Emmons, Carol. Volumes: Installation and Book Works. Art Paper, November, 1989.
Emmons, Carol. Common Knowledge. Green Bay: Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin, 1990.
Haydon, Harold. Review of Projections. Chicago Sun Times, 21 May 1982.
Hugunin, James. Persuasive Views. New Art Examiner, February, 1989.
Jensen Dean. Artists Who Dare. Milwaukee Sentinel, 22 March 1985.
Jessup, Lynn. N.C. Artists for the ‘90s. Greensboro News and Record, 20 January 1991. Lewis, Frank C. Juggled Images Offer Clues to a Real World. Milwaukee Sentinel, 11 October 1985.
Lewis, Frank C. Body of Work Speaks “Volumes”. Milwaukee Sentinel, 9 May 1989.
Livingstone, Joan and Joe Cavalier. Charged Spaces: Stressed Sights in the Body Politic. Chicago: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1989.
Meyers, Trent. 1984 Wisconsin Biennial. Madison: Madison Art Center, 1984.
Nagus, John. Leslie Bellavance. Rockford: Rockford Art Museum, 1987.
Patterson, Tom. Worn Path. Winston Salem Journal, 2 September 1990.
Patterson, Tom. Inner Space. Winston Salem Journal, 21 October, 1990.
Porges, Maria. Image/Object/Place. Oakland: Oliver Art Center, California College of Arts and Crafts, 1991.
Sherlock, Maureen. The Eye and the Light. Art Papers, November/December, 1987.
Smith, Helen. Upper Midwest Photography Invitational. Warm Journal, Spring 1984.
Sobel, Dean. Words as Narrative. Words as Image. Milwaukee: Milwaukee Art Museum, 1990.
Spector, Buzz, ed. White Walls, # 12. Chicago: White Walls Inc., 1985.
Spector, Buzz. Leslie Bellavance. Art Forum, January, 1988. 
Trott Jamirte. “Four Artists; Four Walls”. New Art Examiner, November 1985.
Varnum, Janet. Polariods Medium of Choice for Photographer. News Press Weekender. Stillwater, 18 March 1988.
Verlag, Jonas, ed. Himmelsscheiber Dimensionen eines fluchtigen Mediums. Kassel: Herausgegeben im Auftrag des Kulturamtes der Stadt Kassel, 1986.
Warren, Lynne. Alternative Spaces: A History in Chicago. Chicago: Museum of Contemporary Art, 1984.
 
COLLECTIONS
Milwaukee Art Museum
Weber State University
Sachner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry
First Bank, Minneapolis
Madison Museum of Contempory Art
Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Library
Private Collections
 
 
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Association of University Women
College Art Association, member, Board of Directors 2011-2015
National Council for Arts Administrators, member, Board of Directors 2013-2017
Society for Photographic Education, member
National Women’s Studies Association, member
National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Board of Directors 2014-2019