Leon Willis
Leon Willis (b. 1987) is an expressionist portrait painter who creates work that pushes back against social structures. The blueprint to Leon’s style is rooted in African traditions translated through his love of storytelling with color.
Leon began as a makeup artist, drawn to the power of transformation and visual storytelling. That path evolved into painting, a medium that offered greater freedom for narratives and world-building rooted in cultural meaning-making. His work leans into the intuitive, using color and texture to explore memory, identity, and the emotional threads that connect us.
Born in Prince George’s County, Md. Leon earned his B.A. from Virginia State University. This show follows his first solo exhibition “How Much Does Paint Weigh” in New York (2024) and is a continuation of his journey, presenting new works that delve deeper into mark making as a form of storytelling. Each piece serves as both a question and a reflection. Exploring the impact of attempts to govern the black body, experiences and ways of expression. It’s an invitation for viewers to slow down, feel, and discover themselves within the story.
Available for:
Commissions, Murals, Fashion or Brand Campaigns, Advertising
