ARTIST STATEMENT:
My artistry is rooted in the exploration of social, political, and cultural landscapes. My creations navigate the intricate connections between popular culture and fine art. Spanning diverse subjects like the generational trauma passed down by my four holocaust surviving grandparents, my sexuality, my physical disability, my neurodivergence, serving underrepresented populations (as an Art Educator at The Braille Institute for the blind and visually impaired), mental health, surreal landscapes, and photo-manipulated architecture; my work transforms mundane visual elements into conceptually layered projects that change the way we think and see the world.
ABOUT:
Lenny has over 15 years of experience in agencies and organizations connecting brands to untapped markets through photography, storytelling, PR strategy, and social advocacy. Lenny has worked across the advertising, fine art, fashion, music, beauty, non-profit, and entertainment sectors. From creating stop-motion animation ads for Netflix's popular TV/Streaming series "Queer Eye," to crafting a campaign with Kim Petras for H&M, Lenny's creations have proven to be highly effective, eye-opening, and engaging.
Lenny has worked with household names such as The Academy of Motion Pictures, to bring his unique eye, art direction, and social media objectives to the forefront. In 2021, Lenny produced a sold-out show with Jennifer Hudson and Christina Aguilera at The Forum (Los Angeles) with a 360-sound/visual stage for World AIDS Day.
His diverse portfolio reflects his adaptability, albeit managing the creative aspects of an international multimillion-dollar campaign he has directed or mastering the creation of his conceptual photo/video still-life Barbie series “Vanity” which was featured and sold at SXSW in 2022.
Lenny’s work has been exhibited in galleries and purchased by art dealers globally. In 2022, his work from his "Day vs. Night Polaroid Juxtapositions" series was shown at the notable Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s bookstore (LACMA). It was later placed permanently in LACMA's Balch Art Research Library and Archives.
Lenny teaches individual or group classes in his welcoming home studio in Downtown Los Angeles or online, where he creates a curriculum based on individuals’ needs while inspiring budding artists to explore their potential. Lenny's main goal as an artist is to help the disadvantaged and disabled find a life worth living through art & education. He dedicates his time as an art educator, teaching printmaking, sculpting, ceramics, and other art mediums at The Braille Institute for the deaf, blind, and visually impaired. Lenny is known on Instagram @Lenny__Gerard for tapping into the instant-film/Polaroid niche and posting daily.
Lenny's art doesn't stop in the studio, on social media, directing campaigns, or in the classroom; it extends to galleries, online platforms, and into print publications as he advertises his work daily and others spread the word about his art which speaks on issues and topics that he believes the world needs to be aware of. Lenny is dedicated to changing lives through art — to share his passion for the arts while bringing awareness to social justice issues. Lenny hopes to inspire others to create and think through art as he believes art is the ultimate form of healing, change, progress, and humanity.
Driven by an insatiable desire to create, Lenny is constantly conceptualizing new bodies of work that challenge conventions and ignite conversations. Lenny's artistic journey is a testament to his enduring commitment to the world of art and its power to inspire and connect us all.
EDUCATION:
- Parsons School of Design, New York City, Photography & Cinematography (BFA) 2010-2015
- The New School, Parsons, New York City, Liberal Arts Studies (BA) 2010-2015
- UCLA, Los Angeles, Animation, 2021
- UCLA, Los Angeles, Painting, 2024
- Kline Academy Of Fine Art, Culver City, Mixed Media, 2024
- UCSD, Los Angeles, Lighting, 2008
SOLO SHOWS:
"Day vs. Night Juxtapositions"
The Commotion Gallery - Vancouver, Canada, - (September 2023 - January 2023)
"Inner Child"
Dab Art Gallery - 334 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 - (August 1 - November 1, 2022)
"Pop the Bubbles"
B&G Studio - 3074 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92104 - (September, 2019)
(Permanent Collection, 2023)
The Commotion Gallery - Vancouver, Canada (permanent collection)
"Day vs. Night Juxtaposition #81"
GROUP SHOWS:
"Brewery Art Walk"
The Brewery Artist Lofts - 621 South Avenue 21, Los Angeles, CA 90031 (October 5-6, 2024)
"A Foot Forward: Art Knows No Boundaries"
Coronado Community Center - 1845 Strand Way, San Diego, CA 92118 (September 29, 2024 – January 31, 2025)
"Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk"
Emerging Gallery - 125 West 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 - (February 01, 2024 - March 01, 2024)
"Untitled"
The Commotion Gallery - Vancouver, Canada, - (September 2023)
"Celebrate Art"
Modern Visual Arts Gallery - 35 E. Elizabeth Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018 - (December 3, 2022 - January 5, 2023)
"A Celebration of Pride"
The Hoxton Hotel - 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 - (April 2022 - July 2022)
"The Other Art Fair"
Brooklyn Knockdown Center - 52-19 Flushing Ave, Queens, NY 11378 - (June 2 - 5, 2022)
"Weight Gain"
Dab Art Co. - Online Exhibition - On view and selling via Artsy.com - (March 2022)
"People Are Starting To Notice"
Main Street Gallery - 34 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 - (Feb 26, 2022 - April 23, 2022)
"Be Kind, Rewind"
Sí Gallery - (SXSW - participant) - 906 East 5th Street, Austin, TX 78702 - (February 19, 2022 - April 17, 2022)
"Botanical"
Las Laguna Gallery - 577 South Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 - (Sept 2020 - Sep 2021)
“29th Annual Juried Exhibition”
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library - 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 - (July – September 2020)
“Untitled”
Touchon & Co. Gallery - 1100 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 - (April 2019)
"Art To Go"
Museum of Selfies - 6757 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 - (January 2019)
"Photofeast, New Documents"
Industry City - 220 36th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232 (May 2015)
"Contemporary Takeout"
Thierry-Goldberg Gallery - 103 Norfolk Street, Manhattan, NY 10002 (May 2015)
LECTURES & CLASSES:
Printmaking for the Visually Impaired - Art Educator, (September 2023 - present)
The Braille Institute of Los Angeles- 741 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Ceramics for the Visually Impaired - Art Educator, (May 2023 - present)
The Braille Institute of Los Angeles- 741 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Tactile Collage for the Visually Impaired- Art Educator, (September 2023 - present)
The Braille Institute of Los Angeles- 741 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Zine Publishing for the Visually Impaired - Art Educator, (January 2024 - May 2024)
The Braille Institute of Los Angeles- 741 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Medium Format Film Photographers Group, Los Angeles -Host, Instructor, (October 2023- January 2024)
Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, CA
Instant Film Society Los Angeles - Founder, Host, Instructor - (October 2023 - December 2023)
Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, CA
Artists Discussion Series - "Digital to Instant Film” - The Polaroid Lab
The San Diego Museum of Art- 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102 (February 12, 2022)
Artists Discussion Series - "Exposing Instant Film in Low Light Conditions"
The San Diego Museum of Art- 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102 (March 12, 2022)
Artist's Talk - "Day vs. Night Juxtaposition Series"
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library - 1008 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037 (August 15, 2021)
PRINT:
Fisheye Magazine - Issue no. 66 - "Instagram Artists" - P. 150-151 (June 2024)
Chill Magazine - Issue no. 2 - "Mementos" - P. 34-35 (May 2024)
Photo Trouvée Magazine - Issue no. 12 - "Ancestral Treasures" - P. 138-141 (Dec 2023)
People Are Starting to Notice - (LACMA museum Balch Art Research Library and Archives Permanent Collection) - Issue no. 1 - "Gallery Trove" P. 13 - (March 2022)
The Other Art Fair Catalogue - Catalogue P. 67 (advertisement for OUT magazine) (September 2017)
HIV+ Magazine - "Leonardo" - Cover & Interview, P. 11-16 (May 2017)
City Beat Magazine - PSA "Feel Me Now" Music Video - Cover & Interview, & P. 20 (Feb 24. 2016)
CLIENTS & PUBLISHERS INCLUDE:
- Netflix
- The Academy of Motion Pictures
- Polaroid
- NBC
- Huffington Post
- MTV
- CNN
- Universal Music Group
- Paramount/CBS/Viacom
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Allure
- Coors Light
- Barefoot Wine
- Svedka
- Snapchat
EXPERIENCE:
- The Braille Institute of America - Art Educator (2023-present)
- The Sun (U.S.) - Photo Editor (2023)
- CBS - Social Producer (2022)
- Viacom - Social Producer (2022)
- Paramount - Social Producer (2022)
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation - Creative Media Producer (2022)
- The Academy of Motion Pictures - Motion Graphics Designer (2021)
- RockItCargo - Design Consultant (2021)
- BankWithFair - Content Designer/Social Media Coordinator (2021)
- Gertmenian - E-commerce Marketing Specialist (2020-21)
- eSalon - Photographer, Videographer (2019)
- Little Remedies - Art Director (2019)
- Socialtyze - Art Director (2019)
- Photo Affections - Production Artist (2019)
- Mercury Insurance - Content Creator (2019)
- Summer's Eve - Content Creator (2019)
- Simply To Impress - Production Artist (2019)
- Mariana Jewelry - Content Creator (2019)
- OUT Magazine - Branded Content Producer, Photo & Graphics Editor (2016-18)
- Advocate - Branded Content Producer, Photo & Graphics Editor, Photographer (2016-18)
- HIV Plus Magazine - Photo & Graphics Editor (2016-18)
- Pride - Branded Content Producer, Photo & Graphics Editor (2016-18)
- Alexa Meade - Artist Assistant, Social Media Manager, Photo/Videographer (2015-16)
- Infinity Marketing Team - Social Media Manager/Photographer/Videographer (2016)
- THE FIRM - Photographer, Videographer (2015)
- Universal Music Group - Intern, Photographer (2013)
- Bartok - Intern, Content Creator, Brand & Social Media Strategy (2015)
- Kari Hansbarger - Intern, Photographer (2015)
- Def Jam Records - Intern, Photo/Videographer (2012-13)
- Island Records - Intern, Photo/Videographer (2012-13)
- Emusic - Intern, Photographer (2012)
EXPERTISE:
Art Direction | Photo Manipulation & Retouching | Stop-Motion Animation | Video Editing | Social Media Strategy & Management | Content Creation | Graphic Design | Photography & Lighting | Photoshop | PR |