Forest Leonard
My practice involves press-molding clay into Styrofoam packaging to create functional and sculptural ceramic forms. Styrofoam is a ubiquitous packaging material, which, despite being recyclable, occupies 30% of landfills worldwide. I work by press-molding clay slabs into the Styrofoam voids, waiting up to a week for it to dry evenly and release from the non porous foam. I then clean up any egregious cracks and uneven edges, but largely try to preserve the aesthetic qualities gained from the foams' precise shape and texture. While Styrofoam is difficult to cast clay from, the foam's ubiquity and variety of shapes provides me with a plethora of fascinating ceramic molds. I view these cast forms as handmade fossils, reimagined versions of products from the perspective of their packaging. The castings, distinct from the products that preceded them, reimagine the styrofoam from the perspective of ceramic practices. Light fixture packaging and wine carriers are often vessel-like, making ideal forms to create plates, bowls, cups and other tableware. Other shapes from appliances and digital tech can produce planters, vases and larger scale sculptural monoliths. Through this process, styrofoam has shifted in my perspective, transforming from a problematic pollutant into an abundant resource for my artwork.
Biography
Raised in Kailua, Forest Leonard is a Hawaii based ceramic artist who currently teaches ceramics at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Forest completed his BFA in ceramics and sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015, and his MFA in ceramics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2022. Forest has been featured in a wide variety of exhibitions across the country and in Hawaii.
Contact Information
Instagram: @forest_is_on_fire
Email: forest.leonard@gmail.com
HoMA email: fleonard@honolulumuseum.org (please direct all HoMA related emails here)
Solo Exhibitions
2022-Care packaging
MFA thesis exhibition on reusing styrofoam as ready made molds for ceramic art. University of Hawaii Commons Gallery, January 2020.
2021-Post Package
Exhiition featuring ceramics cast from styrofoam packaging, GRRIC Contemporary Gallery, UHM Honolulu, April 2021.
Awards
John Young Scholarship in the Arts, 2022
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Art and Art History.
The Sayoko Kay Mura Student Award For Excellence
Hawaii Craftsman 53rd Annual Juried Exhibition, DownTown Arts Center, 2020. Award Sponsored by friends of Kay Mura.
Second Place, Raku Ho’olaule’a 2018
Juried Exhibition, Contemporary Category, October 2018, Jeff Chang Pottery.
Honorable Mention
Hawaii Craftsman 50th Annual Juried Show, October 2017, Honolulu Museum of Art School.
Exhibitions
2024- Interisland Action
This exhibition explores themes of "archipelagic thinking," mutual aid, and collective transformation. Curated by Josh Tengen and shown at Kahilu Exhibits.
2023- Artists of Hawaii
Exhibition of Hawaii based artists Juried by HoMA curator Tyler Cann and displayed at the Downtown Art Center.
2023- Waves of Seeing
Juried exhibition of ocean themed artworks made entirely of recycled or biodegradable materials. Curated by Dane Nakama and displayed at Kaiao Space.
Hawaii Craftsmen Annual Juried Exhibition- 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017.
Annual Juried Exhibition of craftworks made by artists located in Hawaii. Exhibited at the HoMA School and the Downtown Arts Center.
Raku Ho'olaule'a 2023, 2019, 2018.
Juried Exhibition of work produced during the Raku Ho’olaulea, an annual raku firing campout currently held at Camp Mokule’ia. Exhibited at many venues over the years, primarily Marks Garage, WCC’s Iolani Gallery, and the Downtown Arts Center.
2020- Then and Now.
25 established artists, “Then” join together with 25 emerging artists, “Now”. Exhibited at the Honolulu Museum of Art School, March 2020.
2017- 9”x 14”x 22’: TSA Surrealism
Group Pop-Up show on the constraints of traveling with artwork, for NCECA in Portland, March 2017.
2016- Elements Art Show
Show composed of light based artworks, The Drop Lounge, Chicago, January 2016.
2015- SAIC Spring BFA Show
Exhibition for SAIC’s graduating BFA Students, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago March 2015.
2014- Simmered, Not Boiled,
Final group show for the advanced ceramics Class, Fall 2014, 1-800 Space Gallery.
2013- Cast: A Plaster show
Curated show displaying plaster work. Spring 2013, Siragusa Gallery.
2011- Redrawn, Reformed, Revealed,
An exhibition of Jewish Artists in Hawaii, Fall 2011, Temple Emanu-El.
2011- Windward Community College Ho’oLaulea
Featured artist, cultural festival, Fall 2011, WCC Campus.
2011- Paliku Arts Festival
Featured artist, April 2011, WCC Campus
2010- Confluence II
Exhibition of WCC Student work, Fall 2010 Gallery Iolani.