To have the courage not to know
But keep the heart open
To simply sit with the not knowing for awhile and observe
To trust that creativity will sooner or later make its mark
Out of the raw materials that surround me –
The paint pots, the brushes, the charcoal and the palette knife
Creation expresses itself
Not from, but through the painter’s hands
- Luc Leestemaker
BIO | Luc Leestemaker (1957-2012)
Born in the Netherlands in 1957, Leestemaker was largely self-taught as an artist but took inspiration and guidance from his grandfather, a painter in the Dutch court. In his native land, Leestemaker was an organizer and entrepreneur in several arts, including visual art, theater, and literature. Working in Amsterdam, he helped found a performing arts center, an art collective, and a monthly magazine devoted to business and the arts. He was managing director of Leestemaker & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in arts marketing, financing, and public relations that at its height boasted the Dutch government's cultural portfolio as its most prominent client.
In the 1990s, Leestemaker moved to Los Angeles. After a stint as an actor and model, he turned to painting full time. Leestemaker developed a style influenced by Abstract Expressionism in both its American and European forms. He eventually evolved a more lyrical style, in which the expansive brushstrokes and vivid palette of Abstract Expressionism becalm themselves, ultimately taking on the composition and atmosphere of land- and seascapes. Vigorous, yet imbued with art-historical reference, his paintings have a distinctive and evocative style.
His experience in marketing and public outreach convinced Leestemaker that artists have a public role to play even beyond the presence and impact of their work. He advocated this public role to artists and non-artists alike, lecturing and giving workshops on the creative process, the artist’s identity, and the symbiosis between artist and society. To this end, Leestemaker published a memoir-like book, “The Intentional Artist: Stories From My Life,” in 2010.
Several other books and catalogues, including the monograph “Luc Leestemaker: Paintings” (2004), have documented Leestemaker’s oeuvre, as has the widely-screened film “Swimming Through The Clouds: A Portrait of the Artist” (2008), directed by Terence Gross and Ruy Carpenter.
In 2005, Leestemaker created a private art fund to mentor and invest in emerging and established artists such as sculptor Patrick Marold, photographer Richard D’Amore, and composer Vincent Ho. In 2006, Ho used four paintings of the artist as inspiration for a chamber music composition, “Four Paintings By Leestemaker.”
The artist also collaborated with famed composer and musician Charlie Haden and created the artwork for Haden’s 2005 Grammy Award-winning CD “Land of the Sun.” His collaboration with Hollywood’s film industry has led to a number of film and television projects including “Spiderman,” “Bringing Down the House,” “Erin Brockovich,” “Shopgirl “Spiderman III,” “Fracture,” and “Boston Legal.”
In March 2012, Leestemaker was selected as a Star of Design in the art category by the Pacific Design Center. On May, 18, 2012, Leestemaker passed away peacefully on his 55th birthday. As well as being a part of major corporate and private collections, Leestemaker’s work continues to be exhibited widely throughout North America and Europe, in museums, commercial galleries, and various public spaces. In 2014, Luc’s work was selected for exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Beijing (MoCA Beijing).
CHRONOLOGY
selected chronology, bio, exhibitions and collections.
1957 Born on May 18, 1957, Hilversum, Netherlands. Grows up dreaming of palm trees and escape.
1971 Falls in love with painting; ‘sees’ abstract art for the first time as a potential personal expression, inspired by Anselm Kiefer’s “Innen Raum.”
1976-1980 Co-founds the art collective “Groenlandsestraatweg” in Amsterdam. Creates performing art center in Amsterdam. Performances with the collective throughout Europe. Starts painting.
1980-1984 Author of educational materials and teacher of remedial programs at St. Joris Lycee in Helmond, Netherlands. Works with children of guest laborers, assisting them in adapting to Dutch cultural customs. Co-founder and artistic director of “Hart Poetr,” a collective of artists, musicians, writers.
1984-1990 Having witnessed firsthand the communication gap between art, cultural institutions and their audiences and sponsors, Leestemaker starts up an art consulting company, Leestemaker & Associates, with the goal of bridging the gap between art and business cultures. Co-founds and edits a monthly business/arts periodical.
1990-1994 After a few aborted attempts at escape, the palm tree dreams are persistent, and life in Holland too suppressing. Leestemaker departs Schiphol to step into the blinding sunlight of Los Angeles, with some cash stashed in his shoes. After following his initial dream of becoming a writer, he re-discovers painting and takes classes from Arnold Schifrin in Venice. Shortly thereafter the career takes off and he rents a studio in downtown LA. Some early exhibitions and group shows at: Barnsdall Art Park; Southern California Gas Company; Miramax Films, New York; 48 Market Street Gallery, Venice; BBDO Advertising LA, and any other location willing to show his work.
1994-1997 Moves to New York with wife, to start a family and new life, which takes off differently than expected. Divorce leads to a severe period of existentialism. Moving back to the West Coast, he finds himself picking up the brush again with renewed vigor. Raw pigments and cement start entering the canvas, creating amore sculptural approach to the work.
Severe eye problems almost cause blindness, but surgery proves ultimately successful and following in the footsteps of other artists who saw their work change after eye trouble, the paintings created after recovery move into the landscape realm. Leestemaker attests this to finally being able to free himself of his old cultural boundaries and gain free access to both the traditions and cultural heritage of his past, while at the same time feeling the freedom to embrace the color field paintings of the abstract expressionists, which he considers to be the quintessential expression of the “American” painter.
1997-2007 Increasing notoriety among galleries, museums, collectors and art consultants.
Museum exhibits:
Bakersfield Art Museum, West Valley Art Museum, Phoenix.
Solo Exhibitions:
Galerie d’Orsay, Boston, MA; Persterer International Art Management, Zurich, Switzerland; BGH Gallery, Santa Monica, CA; Childs Costello Fine Art, Phoenix, AZ; Modern Masters Fine Art, Santa Fe, NW and Palm Desert, CA; Onessimo Fine Art, Palm Beach, FL, New River Fine Art, Ft. Lauderdale and Naples, FL, Lowe Gallery, Atlanta.
Collaboration with a number of developers, architects and designers on successfully integrating his paintings with architectural requirements. Selected Collections and Projects: Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Four Seasons Hotel, Bahamas, Miyako Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, International Las Vegas Airport, Staffworks Inc., San Clemente, CA, Law firm of Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, Los Angeles, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Los Angeles, Toyota USA Headquarters.
2002 Leestemaker becomes a US citizen.
Two books are published and the documentary “Swimming Through The Clouds” is screened at a number of film festivals and aired on Link TV. Jazz legend Charlie Haden becomes a collector of the artist’s work and asks him to create the artwork for his Grammy winning CD, “Land of the Sun.”
2006 The classical composer Vincent Ho uses four of Leestemaker’s paintings to compose “Four Paintings by Leestemaker.” Funded by the Canadian Arts Council this work was performed at a number of music festivals throughout China. Later that year, Lineage Dance Company in Pasadena, CA choreographs a modern dance piece, “Breaking Through the Canvas,” for their repertoire.
Published “Luc Leestemaker: A Retrospective” including “Four Paintings by Leestemaker” animated by Edber Mamisao, and “A Conversation with Luc Leestemaker” directed and produced by Emily Lau.
Concurrently in 2006, new abstractions start emerging in his work, resulting in the “Voyager” and “Map of the Wind” series. Solo gallery exhibition with Galerie d’Orsay, Boston, MA to critical acclaim from press and collectors.
Leestemaker builds his dream home and studio in the Hollywood Hills with life partner.
2008 -2009 Solo Gallery Exhibitions with Galerie d’Orsay, Boston, MA; Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA; Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA; ArtBasel Miami, New River Gallery, Miami, FL
2010 Published “The Intentional Artist: Stories From My Life.” Official launch of book signing tour at Barnsdall Park in Los Angeles, CA.
Solo Exhibitions:
“20 Year Retrospective: Painting in America,” Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA; Forré Fine Art, Aspen, CO; Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA; L.A. Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA ArtHamptons, Bridge Hampton, NY; San Francisco Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2011-2012
Solo Exhibitions:
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA; Forré Fine Art, Aspen, CO; Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA; L.A. Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA ArtHamptons, Bridge Hampton, NY; San Francisco Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
Awarded prestigious Star of Design in the art category by the Pacific Design Center in March 2012. Leestemaker passed away on May 18, 2012 following a battle with cancer.
CURRICULUM VITAE
dutch-american, (1957-2012)
born in Hilversum, Netherlands
resided and died in Los Angeles, CA
awards
2012 Star of Design in the art category by the Pacific Design Center
solo and selected exhibitions
2014
Museum of Contemporary Art Beijing (MoCA Beijing), Beijing, China | “Forms of the Formless"
Dallas Art Fair, Dallas, TX
2013
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA | “The Paintings of Luc Leestemaker: Beyond the Horizon”
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2012
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA | “Stories of My Life”
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA | “Transcendence”
Laura Rathe Gallery, Houston, TX | “Ascension”
ArtHamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2011
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA | “Larger Than Life”
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
ArtHamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2010
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA | “20-Year Retrospective: Painting in America”
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Forré Fine Art, Aspen, CO
ArtHamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco Fine Art Fair, San Francisco, CA
2009
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2008
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA
New River Fine Art Gallery at ArtBasel, Miami, FL
Riverside Museum, CA | “Plein Air Abstraction”
2007
Galerie D’Orsay, Boston, MA
Madison Gallery, La Jolla, CA
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2006
Athenaeum Music & Arts Gallery, La Jolla, CA | “Luc Leestemaker: Recent Landscapes”
2004-2005
Persterer Art Management, Zurich, Switzerland
West Valley Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Bakersfield Museum of Art; Retrospective
2003
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Global Art Source, Zurich Switzerland.
Posner Gallery, Birmingham, MI.
International Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
Chiaroscuro Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Palm Springs International Art Fair, CA
BGH Gallery, Santa Monica, Bergamot Station Art Center, Santa Monica, CA
Neocon; Design and Art Forum, Atlanta, GA
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York, NY
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Silvana Facchini Gallery, Miami, FL
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Chiaroscuro Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Maui, HI
2001
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA
Palm Springs International Art Fair, CA
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York, NY
Silvana Facchini Gallery, Miami, FL
International Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL
Boritzer Gray Hamano Gallery, Bergamot Station Art Center,
Santa Monica, CA
Learsi Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Chiaroscuro Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Maui, HI
2000
International Art & Design Fair, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Silvana Facchini Gallery, Miami, FL
Palm Springs International Art Fair, CA
Holly Hunt, Miami, FL
Boritzer Gray Hamano Gallery, Bergamot Station Art Center,
Santa Monica, CA
Learsi Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Elizabeth Edwards Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
East East Gallery, Nantucket, MA
Art & Design Expo, Phoenix, AZ
International Art & Design Expo, New York, NY
1999
Chicago Design Show, Chicago: Annual Contemporary Forum
Summer Group Exhibition Boritzer Gray Hamano Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
East East Gallery, Nantucket, MA
455 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
Finesilver Gallery. San Antonio, TX
Design Show Los Angeles. Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
Boritzer Gray Hamano Gallery at Bergamot Station Arts Center,
Santa Monica, CA
LA Artcore at The Union Center for the Arts, Los Angeles
“Five in Costa Rica.” Group show based on Fellowship in Costa Rica in 1998
Palm Desert Art Gallery, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, CA
Colburn Schwartz Furniture and Design Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1998
“Divine Design.” Annual Art and Design presentation by the finest of
Californian designers. In Association with Nicholas Walker & Associates,
Beverly Hills, CA
Colburn Schwartz Furniture and Design Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Palm Desert Art Gallery, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, CA
Boritzer Gray Hamano Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center,
Santa Monica, CA
L.A. Artcore at The Union Center for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Fellowship at David and Julia White Artists Colony, Costa Rica
1997
Boritzer Gray Hamano Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center,
Santa Monica, CA
David Dalton & Associates, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
1996
David Dalton & Associates, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
Beverly Hills Art Fair, Beverly Hills, CA
1995
David Dalton & Associates, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
Beverly Hills Art Fair, Beverly Hills, CA
1994
Click Gallery, in association with Michele Moscou Miller Fine Arts,
New York, NY
Columbia University, New York, NY
1993
L.A. International Art Fair, Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
Headquarters Southern California Gas Company, Los Angeles, CA
Barnsdall Municipal Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
L.A. County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Boise State University, Boise, ID
Forty Eight Market Street Gallery, Venice, CA
1992
Islington Art Fair, London, UK
Gagliardi Design & Contemporary Art Gallery, London, UK
1991
Headquarters Jon Douglas Corporation, Los Angeles.
Tribeca Filmcenter, Miramax Films, New York, NY
Gallery 500, New York, NY
Corporate headquarters BBDO Advertising, Los Angeles, CA
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2011
Art New Orleans. “Where the Wind Blows: The Expressionistic
Paintings of Luc Leestemaker,” Winter
2010
Fabrik Magazine, Los Angeles. “Getting Creative: Art as a Way of Living and Working”
2009
Los Angeles Business Journal. “Easel Living: Luc Leestemaker at his home studio in the Hollywood Hills” ArtNews, June.
2008
The Advocate/Greenwich Time; “Landscapes go Ethereal”
2007
The Bulletin, Oregon; “Collective Consciousness”
Pasadena Now
La Jolla Light
2005
The Charlotte Observer
The Dallas Morning News
Forbes
KVU-TV, Las Vegas
Ventura County StarLuzern Daily News, Switzerland
Gambit Weekly, New Orleans
The Philadelphia Inquirer
2004
CBS News “Eye on the Desert”
Sunset Magazine
The Arizona Republic
The Californian
Arts & Antiques
“Buttering Bread” Doug Meyer, M.F.A. Art Critic
2003
Palm Desert News
2002
Veranda Magazine
2001
ArtNews
Laguna News
2000
In Style Magazine
Nantucket Herald
1999
Design Journal
“Allusive Abstractions” William Torphy, art critic, curator
Home Style Magazine
“Luc Leestemaker at LA Art Core” Norma Jean Squires, Art Critic, A
1997
“Luminous Landscapes” William Torphy, art critic, curator
LA Weekly, Los Angeles, “Art Pick Of the Week.”
Architectural Digest. Featured in Kreiss Collection, July.
1993
LA Weekly, Los Angeles, “Art Pick Of the Week.”
“Expose yourself to Art!.” Venice Magazine, March 1993.
1992
“Emotions on Canvas” Impressions. Art magazine. October 1992.
People Magazine
1991
“Dutch Treat” Daily News. New York. October 1991.
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
corporate, public, and commissions
- Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. La Jolla, CA
- “The Atrium”. Los Angeles, CA
- Banner Estrella Medical Center. Phoenix, AZ
- Bellagio Hotel & Casino. Las Vegas, NV
- Beverly Hills Hotel. Los Angeles, CA
- Bluefield Entertainment. Laguna, CA
- The Center for Neuroscience at Harvard University. Cambridge, MA
- City Yoga. Los Angeles, CA
- Desert Horizons Country Club. Palm Springs, CA
- Fidelity Financial. Newport Beach, CA
- Four Seasons Resort. Bahamas
- Genzyme Pharmaceuticals. Boston, MA
- Mad Macs Computer Services. Los Angeles, CA
- Law Firm of Allen Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory. Irvine, CA
- Matrix Design Group. Los Angeles, NV
- McCarran International Airport, National Airlines, VIP Lounge. Las Vegas, NV
- Messina – Baker Inc. Los Angeles, NV
- MGM Grand Casinos and Hotels. Las Vegas, NV
- Miyako Hotel. Tokyo, Japan
- MicroNomics, Inc. Los Angeles, CA
- Miramax Films, New York. Los Angeles, CA
- Mitsubishi-Shiodome Project. Tokyo, Japan
- Nortel Telecommunications. San Ramone, CA
- Omni Hotel. San Diego, CA
- Park Place, Chicago, IL. Urban residential complex in association with
- Stonegate Development and Coldwell Banker
- Ruth’s Chris Restaurants. Del Mar, CA
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort Spa. Dana Point, CA
- Stratford Square Shopping Center. Chicago, IL
- Stretch Art. Gardena, CA
- Law Firm of Tatro, Coffino, Zeavin & Bloomgarden. Los Angeles, CA
- Tireco. Torrance, CA
- Toyota USA Headquarters. Torrance, CA
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Los Angeles, CA
- Newman Scoring Stages,
- and Offices of the Chairman of TV Entertainment
- Unified Western Grocers. City of Commerce, CA
- The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa. Hollywood, FL
- Yellow Pages Media. Irvine, CA
- Iris A. Walsh Foundation. Winnipeg, Canada
Selected private collectors
- President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton
- President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
- Mrs. Nancy Reagan
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Drew Barrymore
- Steve Carell
- Esa=Pekka Salonen
- David and Anne Gergen
- Charlie Haden
- Chris Matthews
- projects for film and television
- “Erin Brockovich,” directed by Steven Soderbergh
- “Fracture,” directed by Gregory Hoblit
- “Spiderman,” directed by Sam Raimi
- “Spiderman 3,” directed by Sam Raimi
- “Shark,” directed by Spike Lee
- “Shopgirl,” directed by Steve Martin
- “Simone,” directed by Andrew Niccol
- “Bringing Down the House,” directed by Adam Shankman
- “Juwanna Man,” directed by Jesse Vaughn
- “The 13th Floor,” directed by Josef Rusnak
- “America’s Sweethearts,” directed by Dominic Sena
- “Caroline in the City,” NBC Television
- “JAG,” CBS Television
- “Gideon’s Crossing,” ABC Television
- “CSI,” CBS Television
- “Boston Legal,” ABC Television
- “Californication,” HBO