leesa@leesahaapapuro.com
www.leesahaapapuro.com
Leesa Haapapuro was born in Detroit, MI. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2000. Haapapuro has been an arts educator, and member of the Dayton arts community for many years. She has sculptures in the permanent collection of the Dayton Art Institute and Wright State University. She is well known for her temporary site-specific installations which invite community participation, and has shown extensively throughout the region.
Education
- MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI
- BFA and Certificate of Art Therapy, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
- Foundation, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH
Appointments
2021 Artist in Residence, Dayton Metro Library, Dayton, OH
Working with the community and all 18 branches of the Dayton Metro Library to create an artwork that explores ideas of unity. Bridges, a participatory site-specific installation at the Main Branch, will serve as a focus for conversations about equity. The project has been made possible with support from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District administered by Culture Works and the Dayton Metro Library.
2019-2020 Creative Community Artist in Residence, Kennedy Heights Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
Working with the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, and the community, created Garden of Hope, four site-specific outdoor public art installations that served as messages of hope during the pandemic. Messages were gleaned from online submissions and translated into the form of plants using the coded language of floriography. To learn more, visit the Garden of Hope website.
1998-2020 Master Artist, R.E.A.C.H. Heritage Sculpture Project, Dayton, OH
Master artist, along with Bing Davis and Tess Little, for the Realizing Ethnic Awareness of Cultural Heritage public sculpture installed at Court House Square. I continue to work with R.E.A.C.H. as a facilitator for art-making workshops at their yearly conferences.
2017-2020 Artist and Instructor, We Care Arts, Kettering, OH
Artist and instructor serving physically, mentally, and developmentally challenged individuals using the healing power of creating art to complement medical therapies.
2010-2020 Puppet Designer and Fabricator, Zoot Theater Company, Dayton, OH
Design and make puppets and masks for theatrical productions and community projects.
1996-2018 Adjunct Instructor of Art Appreciation, Papermaking, 3D Design and Sculpture, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH
1995-2018 Artist and Instructor, K12 Gallery for Young People, Dayton, OH
Worked with children and adults on community-oriented, collaborative art projects.
2009-2016 Visiting Artist and Guest Instructor, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Conducted weekly workshops at ArtStreet Gallery, University of Dayton. Hosted daily workshops in conjunction with my 2010 exhibit and open studio project Munecas Quitapenas (No Worries).
2008 Sculptor in Residence, Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Cornish, NH
Maintained an open studio 40 hours a week while creating a monumental work, Memento, and discussing it with park visitors. Additionally taught workshops, demonstrated techniques, and conducted tours of the sculpture collection.
2001-2008 Adjunct Instructor of Sculpture, Wright State University, Fairborn, OH
Taught intermediate, advanced, and independent study students to form and fire clay, build armatures, and makes molds. I also taught beginning sculpture, wood carving and fabrication, metal fabrication, stone carving, and fiber sculpture.
1996-1998 Adjunct Instructor of Papermaking, Earlham College, Richmond, IN
Taught the history and technique of Western and Japanese papermaking, sculptural paper casting, collage, and bookbinding.
1991-1996 Artist in Residence, Dayton Visual Arts, Center Dayton, OH
The first artist to maintain an open studio in their original site at the Biltmore building. Taught workshops and promoted the organization.
Collections
- Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH
- Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Awards and Honors
- 2021 Artist Opportunity Grant funded by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and administered by Culture Works
- 2007, 1997, and 1994 Individual Artist Fellowship Recipient, Montgomery County Regional Arts and Cultural District
- 2003 Awarded Most Creative Use of Paper, Works on and of Paper Exhibition, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH
- 2001 Furtherance Fund Recipient, Montgomery County
- 1998 Community Artist Recognition Award, City of Dayton
- 1998 Awarded Most Creative Use of Paper, Works on and of Paper Exhibition, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH
Select Exhibitions
2021 Bridges, a Community Art Project, Dayton, OH
Ongoing participatory site-specific installation in partnership with the Dayton Metro Library system. The project focuses on how we can begin to unify fractured communities. Working with various groups to promote equity and build social capital.
2019 Garden of Hope, Creative Community Public Art Installations, Cincinnati, OH
As artist-in-residence, worked with The Kennedy Heights Arts Center to create art together (but apart) during the pandemic. The Garden of Hope project used the language of flowers to connect the community during the public health state of emergency lockdown. To learn more, visit the Garden of Hope website.
1991-2018 Juried Group Exhibitions, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH
2018 In Memoriam, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH
Working with community members, I created a permanent art installation to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Library’s founding, and to honor the memory of the 8 girl scouts and who lost their lives in a train crash while traveling to the Library.
2017 Medallions, Vandalia, OH
As artist-in-residence, worked with community members to create a permanent art installation on site for the quiet reading room in the Vandalia Branch of the Dayton Metro Library. Patrons created glass mosaic medallions during open studio hours and frequent workshops.
2005-2017 Sideshow: An Interactive Carnival Game, Dayton, OH
Built elaborate site-specific installations with interactive and performative elements for the yearly art and music extravaganza that took place during Urban Nights.
2015, 2014 ArtEd, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH
Won Peopleʼs Choice Award in both 2014 and 2015.
2013 Circus!, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Dayton, OH
Collaborated with students from the K12 Gallery for Young People to create an immersive art experience, which celebrated the joy of making art.
2011 Canal Men, Riverscape Canal Walk, Dayton, OH
Branching Out, an invitational outreach project held in conjunction with Patrick Dougherty’s site-specific sculpture for Wegerzyn Gardens. One of 4 local artists chosen, I filled the memorial canals along Patterson avenue with sculptures alluding to the history of the thousands who died digging the canals, known as “The Longest Cemetery.”
2011 Here’s Looking at You: Portraits in Ohio, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH
Curated by Kay Koeninger, the exhibition featured 14 Ohio artists. I exhibited my portrait project and sculpted a portrait during the opening. To learn more, watch the documentary below.
2009-10 Munecas Quitapenas (No Worries), University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
As artist-in-residence at University of Dayton’s ArtStreet Gallery, created an installation made of worry dolls, which were made by both the artist and members of the community.
2008-09 Memento/Mementos, Solo Installation, Dayton Convention Center, Dayton, OH
Returning from her artist’s residency at Saint-Gaudens National Historic site, the artist shared about her experience and exhibited a monumental memorial for her brother that she created while there. As part of the exhibit, she asked community members to share memories of loved ones and create their own mementos during the three-month-open-studio installation.
2006 Celebration, Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH
Installation for the Dayton Art Institute celebrating the 30th birthday of the Experiencenter.
2005 Tread Softly, Solo Installation, Stivers School for the Arts, Dayton, OH
2005 Phoenix Fire, Site-Specific Installation, Dayton, OH
A collaboration with Jud Yalkut (video) and Dan Raridan (sound) celebrating the new location of Dayton Visual Arts Center on Ludlow Street.
2004 A Fairy Tale, Solo Installation, at Riverbend Art Center, Dayton, OH
2003, 1998 Works on and of Paper, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering, OH
Awarded Most Creative Use of Paper in both 1998 and 2003.