BIO
I'm a midwestern native working and living in Chicago, IL. As a multi-media artist, my aspiration is to create pieces with unique character, which are thought provoking and visually pleasing. My interest in exploring glass and its properties leads me to create narratives between design, texture, form and color. Each piece is expressive in its own way, designed and handcrafted by me in my studio, Chicago Glass Collective.
CV
EDUCATION
B.F.A. in Sculpture, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
M.F.A. in Sculpture, School of Art and Design, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
STUDIO EXPERIENCE
Current Owner, Chicago Glass Collective, Chicago, IL, October 2012-Present. Oversees day to day operations, staff and student recruitment, hires and manages personnel, studio inventory and budget creates class and workshop schedules, and curriculum. Builds social network websites to publicize program and event information; leads regular staff meetings to communicate policy and program changes and solicit staff updates; develops artist in residence program, and professional development opportunities for staff. Research peer organizations and networks to inform ideas and secure resources for new programs.
Glass Studio Department Head and instructor, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL, November 2006-June 2012.
TEACHING POSITIONS
Taught courses, advised students in career development paths and resources, developed curriculum, managed studio facilities, held visiting artist, teaching artist and resident artist assistant positions, took courses as a student.
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, IL, July 2014 and June 2017, Visiting Instructor, Master Class Intensives.
Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL, 2006-2012, Instructor and Head of Glass Dept.
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA, 1994-2003, Instructor and Studio Coordinator
Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA, 1998 and 2001, Teaching Assistant and Artist in Residence Assistant
Red Deer Art College, Calgary, AB, 2001, Visiting Instructor
Urban Glass School, Brooklyn, NY, 1999-2000, Visiting Instructor and Resident Artist
FACULTY POSITIONS
Taught courses, advised students in career development paths and resources, managed work-study program and studio facilities, developed curriculum, participated on various faculty committees
Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, 2007-2009
Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH, 2005-2006
University of Miami, Miami, FL, 2004-2005
University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, 2001-2004
EXHIBITION RECORD
“Strongest, Cracked, Broken”, SOFA Expo, Oliva Gallery Booth, Chicago, IL- Nov 2019
“Strata”, Two Person Exhibition, IWU Gallery, Bloomington, IL- Oct-Dec 2018
“DIS”, Group Exhibition, Pilchuck Glass Gallery, Seattle, WA- May-July 2018
“For the Love of Glass”, Group Exhibition, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, GA- April 2017
“Reef”, Private Collection, Tomas Vasquez and Vince Nardi, Chicago, IL-2016
"Corporeal”, The Gershman Y Borowsky Gallery CEVA Alumni Group Show, Philadelphia, PA- 2012
“MAKE”, Midtown Warehouse Group Exhibition, Cleveland, OH; artist and co-curator- 2006
“Face to Face”, Solo Exhibition, International Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago, IL- 2006
“Traverse”, OMNIART III Urban Intervention Installation, Art Basel Foundation, Miami, FL- 2005
“The Invisible Body”, Group Show, Northern Illinois University Gallery, Chicago, IL- 2005
“Endoderm II”, OMNIART II Urban Intervention Installation, Art Basel Foundation, Miami, FL- 2004
“You Are Here”, Group Show, I Space Gallery, Chicago, IL- 2004
“Viscera”, MFA Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL- 2004
“Internal” Link Gallery Group Show, Champaign, IL- 2001-2003
“Cells, Self Portrait”, Creative Artists Network Group Show, Philadelphia, PA- 2002
“Homage”, Solo Show, Elsa Mott Ives Gallery, New York City, NY- 2000
GRANTS, AWARDS, RESIDENCIES
Parrish and Klein Glass Residency, Northlands Creative, Lobster, Scotland- June 2018
Parrish and Klein Glass Residency, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA- September 2017
Parrish and Klein Glass Residency, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA- September2014
Partial Scholarship, Bullseye Glass and Resource Center, Portland, OR- 2012
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Voyage Chicago, “Meet Leslie Speicher of Chicago Glass Collective in Ravenswood”, June 6, 2017 http://voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-chicago-glass-collective-ravenswood/
Nancy Morris, “Leslie Speicher, Sharing and Growing through the Chicago Glass Collective”, The Flow Magazine Fall 2014, https://www.theflowmagazine.com/the-flow-store/product/219-fall-2014-print.html
Victoria Donohoe, “A Delightful Walk In The World Of William Steig”, “Body Awareness”, February 10, 2012, http://articles.philly.com/2012-02-10/entertainment/31046658_1_cartoons-william-steig-art-show
Gerold Shelton, “University art gets big-city treatment”, Northern Star, March 10, 2005, p. 3
Alfredo Triff, “A Fine Sense Of Place”, December 23, 2004, http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2004-12-23/culture/art_print.html
Nik Gallicchio, “Mortality to motorcycles”, Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004, http://www.illinimedia.com/buzz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1414
Melissa Mitchell, “Women in the Arts”, The News Gazette, May 9, 2004, p.2 section F (photograph).
Richard Yelle, “International Glass Art”, 2000, pp. 313-314 (photographs)
Judy Wagonfeld, “Class Glass Genres”, Tacoma News Tribune, August 19, 1999, pp.3 –5 (photo)
Olga Valle Tetkowski, “The Third New York Biennial of Glass”, Glass Magazine, Catalogue/Number 73/winter 1998, p.63 (photograph)
