Lesa Cook

Lesa Cook grew up in South Carolina and received a BA in studio art from the University of South Carolina in 1987. She continued her fine art studies at: The Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC, The Art League in Alexandria, VA, The Schuler School of Art in Baltimore, MD, and The Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. She resides in Burkittsville, MD with her husband, where she paints, sculpts and teaches. She is a registered copyist at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. She considers herself a classical realist, drawing inspiration from the great masters and trying to capture not only the natural form but the emotional reality as well.

Education

  • Apprenticeship, Brian Booth Craig, East Stroudsburg, PA 2021
  • Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy 10/2018 to 3/2020
  • The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, copyist 2011-present
  • Art League, Alexandria, VA figure and portrait painting, sculpture and drawing 2003 – 2015
  • Studied under: Stephen Early, Charles Johnson, Robert Liberace, Dan Thompson, Rick Weaver.
  • University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC BA, Studio Art and Printmaking 1987

Awards

  • Best in Show (sculpture), Regional Juried Sculpture Show, MD Federation of Art, Maryland Hall, Annapolis, MD 2026
  • Best in Show (painting), Biennial Maryland regional Exhibit, UMGC, Adelphi, MD 2026
  • Finalist (sculpture), Art Renewal Center International Salon 2026
  • People’s Choice Award (painting), Cumberland Valley Regional Show, Hagerstown, MD 2025
  • Juror’s Award (painting), National Figurative Show, “The Figure: Portrait & Narrative” Wayne, PA 2025
  • Agof Agopoff Award for Classical Sculpture, National Sculpture Society, Brookgreen Gardens, SC 2024
  • People’s Choice Award (drawing), National Juried Show, Saville Gallery, Cumberland MD 8/2023
  • Individual Artist Award Grant (sculpture), Maryland State Arts Council, 2023
  • Third Place (painting), National Juried show, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD 2022
  • Juror’s Choice Award (painting), National Juried Show, Annapolis, MD 2022
  • Scholarship, Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy 2020
  • Individual Artist Award Grant, Painting, Maryland State Arts Council, 2019
  • Sculpture Award, Juried Show, Cumberland Valley Regional Show, Hagerstown, MD 2/2018
  • Honorable Mention (painting), Strokes of Genuis, MFA Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD 11/2017
  • Second Place (painting), Expressions Portrait Competition, Artspace Herndon, VA 10/2017
  • Honorable Mention (sculpture) Expressions Portrait Competition, Artspace, Herndon, VA 10/2017
  • Benefactor Award (painting), Northern National Competition, Rhinelander, WI 10/2017
  • Honorable Mention (painting), Juried Show, The Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA 4/2017