CHICAGO, IL - June 1, 2015 - / Leon Sarantos is pleased to announce his solo exhibit, ColorPlay, at the Bernard Gallery. The exhibit continues through June 19th. A reception will be held in the gallery on the 2nd floor of Calumet College of St. Joseph on Wednesday, June 3rd, from 4:30 to 6:30. The public is welcome to attend.
Mr. Sarantos was born in Indiana and now lives in Chicago. He spent his boyhood in Midland, Michigan. There he admired the many beautiful buildings designed by Alden B. Dow, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright. This inspired Leon to become an architect, but he always made time for art as well.
His paintings are inspired by his love of color - color swirls over the canvas, with strong, lively brush strokes. Although he often creates abstract paintings, he also combines architecture and art by painting cityscape scenes. He lives near the University of Chicago and enjoys painting the Gothic buildings on campus. In his painting, “Bond Chapel”, he explores the interplay between abstraction and realism by presenting a Chicago scene in a way that is representational without being photorealistic. He also creates figurative art, landscapes and still life paintings.
Bernard Gallery is part of Calumet College of St. Joseph, which is a private institution of higher learning located at 2400 New York Avenue in Whiting, Indiana. Currently serving approximately 1,300 students, the college has provided access to education for students of the Calumet Region since 1951 and offers Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. The gallery curator, Martin Martinez, is on the faculty in the Digital and Studio Arts program. For information regarding the exhibit, please contact Martin Martinez at 219-473-4384 or mmartinez@ccsj.edu.
About the Artist
Leon Sarantos graduated from the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. He later studied art at the the Hyde Park Art Center and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Leon has exhibited his art in galleries and venues throughout the area including: South Shore Arts in Munster, Paul Henry’s Art Gallery and White Ripple Gallery in Hammond, as well as CornerStone Gallery and Studio 659 in Whiting. His art has also been displayed in Chicago venues, such as Hyde Park Art Center, Studio Oh and Zhou Brothers Art Center.
He has won several awards and honors, including Best of Show at CornerStone Gallery, and First Prize at the Beverly Art Center in Chicago. Most recently his landscape, “Winter Woods,” received an Honorable Mention at the Indigenous Landscapes exhibit at the Indiana Welcome Center. He is a juried member of the Union Street Gallery Guild. He is also the Gallery Director at CornerStone Gallery. His art is in private collections nationally from coast to coast, as well as internationally in London and Moscow. His art can be viewed on his website at http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Issuer Contact Information
Mr. Sarantos’ website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Tel: 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL - October 22, 2014 -/ Leon Sarantos is very pleased to announce that all three of his “Networks” paintings were selected for the “Abstract Show III”, a national juried exhibit at Brickton Art Center in Park Ridge, Illinois.
This exhibit will continue until November 22, 2014. With over 100 artists applying, Mr. Sarantos felt honored that his art was selected. The jurors were Kristin Haas, Director of Brickton Art Center, and Darrell Roberts, a noted Chicago artist.
The paintings by Leon Sarantos that are on display are from his “Networks” series. Sarantos says he “uses painted networks to create a single result from its many individual lines. I start by applying swatches of color to the canvas in a random but slightly controlled composition. Then, using a single color, I start outlining these swatches. Eventually, a figure or scene starts to emerge as the lines are laid in, just as a social network starts to take on a life of its own to create its final phenomena.”
Leon continues his thoughts about his creative process, “Like reading a Rorschach inkblot, my subconscious offers up a recognizable shape or scene from the materializing network. In this process, my three paintings emerged: “Loopy Llama”, “Sunrise On Wooded Lake”, and “Jumping Jack.”
This is the third annual abstract exhibit hosted by the Brickton Art Center. The Brickton Art Center was established in 1997 and it serves the people of Park Ridge and the surrounding communities. The art center is located at 306 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, Illinois. 60068. For more information about Brickton Art Center call (847) 823 6611 or visit their website http://www.bricktonartcenter.org
About the Artist:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center. Mr. Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in curated art shows on a national and international basis.
Leon is also a member of 119th Street Artists and Artsia: The Society of International Artists. He is represented by Union Street Gallery, Illinois, Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, Indiana; CornerStone Art Gallery, Indiana; Xanadu Gallery, Arizona: and Artfinder, London. His art is in private collections across the U.S, as well as in England and Russia. His website is www.leonsarantosartist.com
Issuer Contact:
Email: leon.sarantos@gmail.com
Website: www.leonsarantosartist.com
CHICAGO, IL, July 10, 2014 - / - Leon Sarantos’ art is now on display in “The Hyde Park Connection” at the CornerStone Art Gallery in Whiting, Indiana. Sarantos is the new gallery director at CornerStone and says “I am especially pleased to present artists whom I’ve met through the Hyde Park Art Center for our summer exhibit. Studio 4 is a group of artists associated with the esteemed Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. My cityscape paintings of the University of Chicago Quadrangle are on display as well.” The exhibit is on view in July and August, with an opening reception on Friday evening, July 11th.
“Chicago on Canvas”, Cityscapes by Leon Sarantos contrast the enduring beauty of the traditional Gothic Revival architecture of the University of Chicago to the vibrant diversity of its modern students. These images reflect the dynamic of juxtaposing old and new, tradition and change. In describing his artwork, Sarantos says: “I'm an architect, as well as an artist, and my paintings are inspired by the enduring beauty of the Gothic Revival architecture in the Main Quadrangle. The modernity, which the students represent, is illustrated with their multiple electronic devices. In juxtaposition, these images contain the tension of stability and change.”
In addition, there are also two companion solo exhibitions are on display in the side galleries. The first is “Layered Lusciousness” features art by renowned Chicago artist Darrell Roberts. Roberts has served as mentor and teacher to many of the Studio 4 artists.
The other solo exhibition is by artist David Anthony Geary. Geary is a talented teaching artist at the Hyde Park Art Center. His lively and colorful art leaps off the canvas to engage the viewer. He has guided and influenced many Studio 4 artists. The community of Evanston and the greater Chicagoland area serve as a great source of inspiration for his palette.
The Hyde Park Connection and solo shows are on view through September 5th with an opening reception on Friday, July 11th from 6:30 to 9 PM. The reception is free and open to the public. Many of the artists will be present to engage the public and answer questions. CornerStone Art Gallery is located in the Centier Bank Building at 1500 119th Street, Whiting, Indiana. The gallery is in Northwest Indiana, about a 30 minute drive from Chicago. Their website is http://www.119streetartists.org
About the Artist:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center. Mr. Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in curated art shows on a national and international basis. He is a member of 119th Street Artists and Artsia: The Society of International Artists. He is represented by Union Street Gallery, Illinois, Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, Indiana; CornerStone Art Gallery, Indiana; Xanadu Gallery, Arizona: and Arfinder, London. His website is www.leonsarantosartist.com
Issuer Contact:
Email: leon.sarantos@gmail.com
Phone: 773 288 1944
Website: www.leonsarantosartist.com
CHICAGO, IL – April 23, 2014 - / - Leon Sarantos is pleased to announce that his abstract art was selected for the “Minute Musings” regional juried exhibit at the Union Street Gallery in Illinois. Artists from all over the Midwest entered 250 artworks, and 69 were accepted. It was curated by Jessica Segal, Gallery Director, and Madeline Henry, Union Street Gallery Studio Artist. The opening reception is on Friday, April 25, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
This exhibition features art that is 12 inches and smaller. Art does not have to be large to make a statement. Some of the most powerful pieces of art are the smallest. Small art is deliberate and intimate; it draws the viewer in closer, causes them to linger. Small art can be playful and whimsical like a toy, familiar like everyday objects, or precious like a small altar.
Mr. Sarantos’ abstract painting, “Jumping Jack,” is on display. His new abstract art explores the theme of networks. In this series, Sarantos says he “uses painted networks to create a single result from its many individual lines. I start by applying swatches of color to the canvas in a random but slightly controlled composition. Then, using a single color, I start outlining these swatches. Eventually, a figure or scene starts to emerge as the lines are laid in, just as a social network starts to take on a life of its own to create its final phenomena. Like reading a Rorschach inkblot, my subconscious offers up a recognizable shape or scene from the materializing network. In this process, my painting, ‘Jumping Jack,’ evolved.”
The Minute Musings exhibit continues until May 10, with an opening reception on Friday, April 25, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The reception is free, open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Many of the exhibit artists, as well as the jurors, will be present to engage the public and answer questions. Union Street Gallery is located at 1527 Otto Blvd, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. Gallery hours are: Wednesday and Thursday 12:00 - 5:00 PM, Friday 12:00 – 6:00 PM Friday, Saturday 11:00 – 4:00 PM. For more information about Union Street Gallery call 708-754-2601 or visit the website http://www.unionstreetgallery.org
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in Michigan. He currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center. Mr.Sarantos has displayed his art extensively in both national and international exhibits, and has won several awards and honors. He is a juried member of the Union Street Gallery Guild. He is also a member of Artsia: The Society of International Artists, and 119th Street Artists in Indiana. He is represented by Union Street Gallery, Illinois, Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, Indiana; CornerStone Art Gallery, Indiana; and Xanadu Gallery, Arizona. His art was recently accepted for representation by Artfinder, a curated, international online gallery based in London. His art is in private collections In Illinois, Indiana, New York, Oregon and Russia.
Mr. Sarantos’ website is: www.leonsarantosartist.com and he can be reached at 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL - August 9, 2013 - / Leon Sarantos is very pleased to announce that his painting, “Female Nudes,” was accepted for the Fluidity Exhibition at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Fluidity is an exhibit of art that is fluid, calm, subdued, and peaceful. It is a regional, juried exhibit that includes 30 works of art by 29 talented artists from the Midwest region. The juror, Renee Klyczek Nordstrom is a Union Street Gallery Studio Artist and a professional, practicing artist for over 30 years. Klyczek Nordstrom has curated and juried numerous exhibitions in the region.
Fluidity celebrates subtlety and grace in artwork. We often see the bold and the shocking receive the most attention. The idea is to have an exhibit of art that is far from literal and in-your-face; an exhibit that focuses on compositions that minimize straight lines, harsh colors, or frenzied activity, and instead rely on tranquil and subdued, curvilinear or organic elements. Many of the pieces in this exhibit embody the definition of fluidity which is "smooth and graceful in a way that seems relaxed." While the art is subtle, the impact is powerful. The intimate nature of the artwork compels the viewer to reflect on the pieces longer, allowing connections to form, emotional or spiritual.
“Female Nudes,” by Leon Sarantos, is an abstract figurative artwork. This figurative art uses a loose style that suggests the forms with one nude standing and the other reclining in a quietly sensual mood. It is part of his series of artworks that present the interplay between abstraction and realism.
The Fluidity exhibit will be on display until September 7th and the Union Street Gallery is located at 1527 Otto Blvd, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. Today, the Union Street Gallery is the premier arts resource for the Chicago southland serving 3000 people per year through diverse art exhibits, classes and workshops, and art outreach projects. There are 16 studio artists and 26 guild artists. For more information about Union Street Gallery visit the website www.unionstreetgallery.org or call 708-754-2601.
About the Artist
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center. Mr. Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in curated art shows on a national and international basis. He is a member of Artsia: The Society of International Artists, 119th Street Artists and Studio 659. He is represented by Union Street Gallery, Illinois, Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, Indiana; CornerStone Art Gallery, Indiana; and Xanadu Gallery, Arizona.
Issuer Contact
Website is: www.leonsarantosartist.com
He can be reached at 773 288 1944
CHICAGO, IL - June 6, 2013 / Leon Sarantos is very pleased to announce that three of his still life paintings are on display in the “Ordinary Things” exhibit at Studio 659 in Whiting, Indiana. The opening reception will be held Friday evening, June 7, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. In this exhibit, the art reminds us that what is ordinary in one life might not be ordinary in another. Some artists have re-imagined “ordinary” in extraordinary ways. The curator is Dawn Diamantopoulos, who is a graduate of Pratt Institute.
Mr. Sarantos’ still life artworks feature his characteristic use of lively colors and a stylized approach, as in his painting Apples, Grapes and Vases on Blue Cloth. Another of his artworks, Three Potted Geraniums, portrays an interior scene of flowerpots resting on a radiator. The painting has a vintage appearance. Mr. Sarantos uses color “as a driving force to create art that is recognizable to the viewer, yet abstracted from a literal representation.“ His art explores the interplay between abstraction and realism across genres including figurative art, landscapes and cityscape paintings, as well as still life art.
The Ordinary Things exhibit is on display until July 6, with the opening reception on Friday evening, June 7, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Many Midwest regional artists will be in attendance at the reception which is free and open to the public. Studio 659 is located in the heart of the historic downtown district of Whiting, Indiana at 1413 119th Street. Located only 30 minutes from Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, Studio 659 is not only an art gallery but a studio which offers classes to youth and adults as well as hosting live music events, book signings and more. The Studio is headed by the Whiting Arts Council. For more information visit their website at http://studio659.org
About:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center.
Mr.Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in curated art shows on a national and international basis. He is a member of Artsia: The Society of International Artists, 119th Street Artists and Studio 659; and is a juried member of the Union Street Gallery Guild. He is represented by Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, Indiana; CornerStone Art Gallery, Indiana; Union Street Gallery, Illinois, and Xanadu Gallery, Arizona. His website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact:
773-288-1944
leon.sarantos@gmail.com
CHICAGO, IL - March 3, 2013 / - Leon Sarantos is very pleased to announce that three of his “Organic Creatures” paintings were selected for the “Mad World”, National Juried Exhibit at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The opening reception will be on Friday, March 8, 2013 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM Mr. Sarantos is among 34 out of 110 artists selected for this exhibit. Natalie Domchenko, Director of the Peter Miller Gallery, Chicago was the juror.
The Mad World exhibit will feature art that is absurd, surreal, and simply MAD! Mad World will display art by artists from 11 different states. Some of the art on exhibit depicts bizarre or imagined worlds, crazy structures not bound by the laws of the gravity, whimsical inventions, and strangely absurd scenarios that appear to be straight out of fantasy or science fiction!
Mr. Sarantos’ “Organic Creatures” paintings combine a feeling of whimsy with a sense of bizarre absurdity. One of the artworks titled “Organic Creatures Going to The Beach,” Sarantos says he “actually envisioned it in an instant behind my eyelids as I was rubbing my eyes after some tiring work. I tried to apply the image to canvas immediately, adding all kinds of color and quick composition, while keeping the main figures true to my vision. When finished, I looked at the painting and felt that here were some strange creatures doing something, and sensed that they were on their way to the beach.”
He then created more oils of this same family of creatures moving about in different settings. His other paintings for this exhibit include “Organic Creatures Slurping Up a Mango Smoothie” and “Organic Creatures Taking The White House Tour.”
The “Mad World” exhibit will be on display from March 6, to April 6, 2013 with the opening reception on Friday, March 8, 2013 from 6:00PM to 9:00 PM. The opening reception is free and open to the public. Patrons will enjoy complimentary wine and food while they explore this strange and beautiful exhibit. The Union Street Gallery is located at 1527 Otto Boulevard, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. More about Union Street Gallery visit their website www.unionstreetgallery.org or further information at 708-754-2601.
About:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center.
Mr. Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in curated art shows on a national and international basis. He is a member of Artsia: The Society of International Artists, 119th Street Artists and Studio 659. He is represented by Paul Henry’s Art Gallery, Indiana; CornerStone Art Gallery, Indiana; and the Xanadu Gallery, Arizona. His website is http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact:
Leon Sarantos
leon.sarantos@gmail.com
773 288 1944
CHICAGO, IL - October 11, 2012 -- / Leon Sarantos is pleased to announce his solo art exhibit, “A Love Affair with Colors.” The exhibit will be at the CornerStone Art Gallery in Whiting, Indiana during October and November with a reception on Friday evening, October 12, 2012.
Leon Sarantos grew up in the Midwest and now lives and creates his art in Chicago, Illinois. Sarantos uses color “as a driving force to create art that is recognizable to the viewer, yet abstracted from a literal representation.” His art explores the interplay between abstraction and realism across genres such as figurative art, still life and cityscape paintings. For example, his painting of “Botany Pond” on the University of Chicago campus, presents a Chicago scene in a way that is representational without being photorealistic. The exhibit will include both his oil paintings and photographs.
His photography, in the form of digital art, also explores the interplay of representational photography with digital transformations to present a more abstract view. His two series are included in this exhibit; Digital Gothic and Chicago, City of Bridges.
The exhibit will be on display from October 6, to November 16, 2012 at the CornerStone Art Gallery, which is located in the Centier Bank Building at 1500 119th Street in the Historic Downtown District of Whiting, Indiana. An opening reception will be held on Friday, October 12, 2012, from 6:00PM to 9:00 PM. The CornerStone is in Northwest Indiana, about a 30 minute drive from Chicago. The center is organized by the 119th Street Artists, a non-profit group that seeks to bring an appreciation of the fine arts to people in all walks of life and to provide support and encouragement to Midwestern artists. For further information about the center and this event, view their web site at http://www.119streetartists.org
About:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art, and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center. Mr.Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in curated art shows on a national and international basis. His website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact:
Telephone: 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL - September 13, 2012 / - Leon Sarantos is honored to have his digital art selected for the 69th Annual Salon Show. The exhibit is sponsored by South Shore Arts at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana. The juror, Daniel Schulman, is with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, and has over 25 years of curatorial experience at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. The opening reception is Sunday afternoon, September 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. The exhibit continues until October 28th and is located at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, a half hour’s drive from downtown Chicago.
Leon Sarantos uses digitally transformed photos to present scenes of the bridges over the Calumet River near 95th street in Chicago. Chicago is called the City of Bridges; many bridges were built along the Calumet River since its development in the 1860s. The Calumet harbor continues to be this region’s busiest port. The Chicago Skyway Bridge was built to be a shortcut from State Street in Chicago to the steel mills on the Southeast border with Indiana. Leon sees the notion of transformation as being true of this region on a symbolic level as well being his artistic media. Leon states this about his art, “The vibrant colors in my photos represent the vital role this industrial hub played in developing the Calumet region.” Two of his digital artworks will be on display at the exhibit are titled “Infrastructure Madness” and “Lift Bridges at Dusk, Calumet River”.
South Shore Arts has been improving the quality of life along the South Shore of Lake Michigan for over 70 years by providing art programs to artists and to residents of Indiana and Illinois. It all started in the hat department of Minas Department Store in downtown Hammond, Indiana with an annual exhibit of regional artists, now known as the Salon Show. Today South Shore Arts is a Regional Partner for the Indiana Arts Commission located in the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana with two branch locations - Substation No. 9, in Hammond, and the Crown Point Community Art Center in Crown Point, Indiana. For further information about the organization and this event, view their website at http://southshoreartsonline.org
About The Artist:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art, and studied in at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center.
Mr.Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in solo and group art shows on an international basis. He recently won an Honorable Mention Award in the Figurative Art Exhibition at the Light Space and Time Online Art Gallery. He has received several Special Recognition awards as well and currently his art is included in the current Botanicals Art Exhibition. His website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Issuer Contact:
Telephone: 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL – June 7, 2012 / Leon Sarantos is pleased to announce that his industrial art is on display in CornerStone Photo Arts III, a juried photography exhibit. The exhibit is at the CornerStone Art Center & Gallery in Whiting, Indiana throughout June and July 2012. The juror, Martin Martinez, is on faculty in the Media and Fine Arts Department at Calumet College of Saint Joseph.
Leon Sarantos uses digitally transformed photos to present scenes of the bridges over the Calumet River near 95th street in Chicago. Chicago is called the City of Bridges; many bridges were built along the Calumet River since its development in the 1860s. The Calumet harbor continues to be this region’s busiest port. The Chicago Skyway Bridge was built to be a shortcut from State Street in Chicago to the steel mills on the Southeast border with Indiana. Leon sees the notion of transformation as being true of this region on a symbolic level as well being his artistic media. “The vibrant colors in my photos represent the vital role this industrial hub played in developing the Calumet region.”
This is the third in a series of juried exhibits about photography and will be at the CornerStone Art Center, in the Center Bank Building, 1500 119th Street, Whiting, Indiana. The opening Reception is on Saturday, May 9 - 9 AM until noon. Cornerstone Art Center & Gallery is located 30 minutes outside of Chicago in NW Indiana in the Historic Downtown District of Whiting, Indiana.
The center is organized by the 119th Street Artists, which is a non-profit group that seeks to bring an appreciation of the fine arts to people in all walks of life and to provide support and encouragement to Midwestern artists. For further information about the center and this event, view their web site at http://www.119streetartists.org
About Leon Sarantos
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art, and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Hyde Park Art Center. Mr. Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in solo and group art shows on a national basis. His website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact Information
Telephone: 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL – April 6, 2012 / - Leon Sarantos is pleased to announce that his abstract, figurative art is on display in a curated group exhibit at the CornerStone Art Center & Gallery in Whiting, Indiana during the months of April and May. The exhibition, “Struggle for Art IV” is curated by Jim Panos. Panos’ concept for the show is the struggle for art, as concerned with “creating a work of art from an idea or vision and how to portray these to the world at large. It is a battle within the self. Being an artist, one is bound to undertake divergent views of the world. Many times the artist is conflicted between the real world and personal ideas and visions.”
Sarantos’ abstract, figurative painting “Fading Flower” is included in the exhibition. The painting portrays a woman contemplating a flower. Leon states about this work “this is an abstract painting done loosely, with the interplay of the reds as one element, the highlighted areas of the woman's body and flower counterbalancing each other, and the purple providing the backdrop. The theme is the fading of youth, both in the flower and the figure of a lady.” The painting is part of a series in which Sarantos combines realism with elements of abstract patterns.
The fourth in a series of exhibits about the Struggle For Art is at the CornerStone Art Center, in the Center Bank Building, 1500 119th Street, Whiting, Indiana. The opening Reception is on Saturday, April 7th from 9:00 AM until noon. Cornerstone Art Center & Gallery is located 20 minutes outside of Chicago in NW Indiana in the Historic Downtown District of Whiting, Indiana.
The center is organized by the 119th Street Artists, a non-profit group that seeks to bring an appreciation of the fine arts to people in all walks of life and to provide support and encouragement to Midwestern artists. For further information about the center and this event, view their web site at http://www.119streetartists.org
About Leon Sarantos:
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art, and began his studies in figure paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. Sarantos has exhibited his work extensively in solo and group art shows on a national basis. His website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact Information:
Telephone: 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL – February 15, 2012 / - Leon Sarantos is very proud to announce that he is a part of a group of Chicago artists who will be displaying their South Side Impressions at the Beverly Art Center, throughout the month of March.
His cityscape painting, “C-Shop, Coffee Shop at University of Chicago” is included in the exhibit and it portrays a scene from a favorite hangout on the University of Chicago campus. Chicago, including the Hyde Park area, is a fascinating subject for many Midwest regional artists and is the main theme of the exhibition that depicts the diverse world of the South Side of Chicago.
Leon Sarantos’ painting “C-Shop, Coffee Shop at University of Chicago“ is one artwork, in a series of work featuring the University of Chicago campus. Artists and art fans of Chicago art can visit the South Side Impressions exhibition at the Beverly Art Center which is located at 2407 West 111th Street (corner of 111th Street and Western Avenue) and is 20 minutes from the Loop in Chicago's historic Beverly Hills and Morgan Park neighborhoods. The opening reception is this Sunday, March 18, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and is being held in the Atrium Gallery.
The Beverly Arts Center is an independent, not-for-profit cultural and educational institution dedicated to enriching lives through the visual and performing arts. For further information on the center and on this event call (773) 445-3838 and their website is www.beverlyartcenter.org
About Leon Sarantos
Leon Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art, and began his studies in figure paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Mr.Sarantos is an architect, as well as an artist, and his paintings are inspired by the beauty of the Gothic Revival architecture in the Main Quadrangle. He has exhibited his work extensively in solo and group art shows on a national basis. His website is: http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact Information
Telephone: 773-288-1944
CHICAGO, IL – January 20, 2012 /- Leon Sarantos recently announced that the Paul Henry’s Art Gallery in Hammond, Indiana is now representing him and currently, he is showing several of his paintings the in the gallery’s “Directions” Art Exhibition.
Leon Sarantos grew up in the Midwest and now lives and creates his art in Chicago, Illinois. The Paul Henry’s Art Gallery is now featuring his triptych painting, titled “Dawn Twilight - The Sun, The Moon, The Stars”. Leon explained the origin of this painting in the following words, “this painting is based on my memories of traveling in the High Sierra Mountains. I employed a sharp contrast of dark and light, along with the fusion of the shading with the shadows, as the eye registers the high values as an abstract shape on a bed of dark values.”
Three additional paintings of Leon’s are also on display in the main gallery; “Young Lady With Long Pipe”, “Organic Creatures Going To The Beach” and “Ecuadorian Statue”. In these newly created paintings he employed an artistic approach that combined and fused both abstract and representational art.
His work “Young Lady with Long Pipe” is an abstract figurative artwork. This painting was previously on display at the Rogers Park ArtWalk, a curated group exhibition, which is part of the Chicago Artists Month.
The artwork “Organic Creatures Going to The Beach” is a whimsical abstract painting with soft pastel colors. Leon states, “To me, this painting suggests a strange family of beings on an outing.” This painting was previously shown in a juried art exhibit at the Cornerstone Art Center & Gallery located in Whiting, Indiana.
His “Ecuadorian Statue” is his representation and focus of a piece of art that he purchased during his travels in South America. He states “the painting is portrayed in dark tones as a man gazes at the statue, giving it a mystical appearance.”
The Paul Henry's Art Gallery represents more than 100 local and national artists and is located at 416 Sibley Street, Hammond, Indiana, 46320 and their telephone is 219-687-5015. The gallery’s website is http://www.paulhenrysart.com/
About Artist Leon Sarantos
Leon (Leonidas) Sarantos originally grew up in the Midwest and currently lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree in the College of Arts and Architecture at the University of Michigan. After moving to Chicago, Leon continued his work in architecture and art, and began his studies in figure paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago. He has exhibited his work extensively in solo and group art shows on a national basis. His website is http://www.leonsarantosartist.com
Contact Information
Telephone: 773-288-1944
