“Very approachable, generous with her time.”

"Leona puts a lot of thought in her teaching. She cares and enjoys being interactive. She is an excellent teacher."

Leona Shanks is a co-founder of Studio Incamminati, with her husband Nelson Shanks. Since entering Studio Incamminati’s Professional Program in 2002, Leona has attended workshops offered by notable affiliated faculty Jon deMartin, Michael Grimaldi, Robert Liberace, Anthony Ryder, Dan Thompson and Ted Seth Jacobs at Studio Incamminati.

Her work has been exhibited at the Union League of Philadelphia; the Chauncey Center, Princeton, NJ; Studio Incamminati’s Annual Exhibition, Philadelphia; the Cosmopolitan Club, Philadelphia; and the Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, PA. Leona’s paintings are included in the Larry and Anne Hall Collection as well as the private collections of Mr. & Mrs. Steven Weiler, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Mertz, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick C. Haab, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Humes, Ms. Mickey Graham, and Mrs. Irene Goldman.

Prior to the founding of Studio Incamminati, Leona attended classes at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia and The Arts Students League in New York. In 2002, Leona won the Edmund Stewardson Award for Sculpture at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Her sculpture studies with Evangelos Frudakis at Frudakis Academy in Philadelphia (1982-1984) continue to influence her paintings.

Leona apprenticed with Nelson Shanks (1985-1989). Since their marriage in 1989, Leona has assisted in his burgeoning career and the operation of his art studio, which included working throughout Europe and America.

Artist statement:
“As an artist I am devoted to exploring the complexities of contemporary realism. Having studied both sculpture and painting, I strive to incorporate a sculptural quality to my paintings.”