Lesley Cohen’s drawings respond to private memories and childhood experiences. She works in charcoal and chalk pastel, a spare and expressive medium by which she conveys her visual metaphors. With her personal use of materials and her distinct vocabulary of marks, she engages in a subtle and evocative dialogue. She has participated in juried shows at locations including the DeCordova Museum, the Danforth Museum, the Mills Gallery, and Boston University. Lesley served as an adjunct professor at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts and has held academic positions in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. With an MFA from Boston University and a BS from State University College, Lesley currently lives and works outside of Boston, Massachusetts.
SOLO EXHIBITS
2023
Light Matters, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
2021
[IN]Between, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
2019
Salvaged Spaces, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
2017
Strata/Substratum, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
2015
Presence and Absence, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
2013
Visible Trace, Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
2012
Mapping My Thoughts, Holzwasswer Gallery, New Art Center, Newton, MA
GROUP EXHIBITS
2019
Duxbury Art Complex Museum, “Draw the Line”, Duxbury, MA, Craig Bloodgood, contemporary curator
2018
Catamount Arts Gallery, “Arts Connect Juried Show”, St. Johnsbury, VT, Nick Capasso, juror
Kingston Gallery, “Gray Area”, Boston, MA
2017
Catamount Arts Gallery, “Arts Connect Juried Show”, St. Johnsbury, VT
2016
Gallery Seven, “Absence of Color III”, Maynard MA
Springfield Museum, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, “Leaving Our Mark; In Celebration of the Pencil”, Springfield, MA
2015
Catamount Arts Gallery, “2015 Juried Members Show”, St. Johnsbury, VT
Bromfield Gallery, Plus One, Boston, MA
Danforth Museum of Art, “Off the Wall”, Framingham, MA, Katherine French, juror
2014
808 Gallery – Boston University, “Convergence: School of Visual Arts Alumni Exhibition”,
Boston, MA, Andrea Champlin, juror
Room 83 Spring Gallery, “Work for Food”, Watertown, MA
Danforth Art Museum, “Off the Wall”, Framingham, MA, Jennifer Gross, juror
Bromfield Gallery, “Black/White”, Boston, MA
2013
Thayer Acadamy Gallery, “Take Five”, Braintree, MA
Danforth Museum of Art, “Off the Wall”, Framingham, MA, Dina Deitsch, juror
2012
Danforth Museum of Art, “Off the Wall”, Framingham, MA, Cody Hartley, juror
Bromfield Gallery, “3_ FT. X 9 ARTISTS drawings”, Boston, MA
2011
Danforth Museum of Art, “Off the Wall”, Framingham, MA, Susan Stoops, juror
New Art Center, “The Creative Process”, Newton, MA
2010
Danforth Museum of Art, “Community of Artists”, Framingham, MA, Katherine French, juror
New Art Center, “The Creative Process”, Newton, MA
Newton Cultural Center, “Black and White Excellence”, MA
2009
Danforth Museum of Art, “Community of Artists”, Framingham, MA, Katherine French, juror
New Art Center, “The Creative Process”, Newton, MA
1995
Boston University Art Gallery, “Alumni Drawing Exhibition”, Boston MA
1992
Needham Art Association Gallery, “Needham Schools Faculty Art Exhibit”, MA
1985
George Sherman Union Gallery, Boston University, “Visual Arts Alumni Exhibit”, MA
1984
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Gallery, “Views: Land, Sea, Air”, MA
1984
Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, “Fifth Annual Boston Drawing Show”, MA
1983
Boston University Art Gallery, “Elements of Landscape”, Boston, MA
Mills Gallery, Boston Center for the Arts, “Fourth Annual Boston Drawing Show”, MA
1981
Laura Knott Art Gallery, “Works on Paper”, Bradford College, Bradford, MA
Prudential Building Gallery, “Mass Teachers Association Art Exhibit”, Boston, MA
Sharon Art Center, Peterborough, NH, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH;
Castleton State College, Castleton, VT; University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME,
Craftschool Gallery, Lewiston, ME, “New England Drawing Competition Selected Works on Tour”
PUBLICATIONS, REVIEWS, AND AWARDS
2015 “Off The Wall”, Danforth Art Museum, Second Place Prize, Katherine French, juror
2015 Review, Boston Globe, May 20, by Cate McQuaid
2015 Capsule Preview, ArtScope magazine, May/June
2015 Gallery Sweep, ArtScope Email Blast, May 7
2014 Review, ArtScope magazine, July/August, by Elizabeth Michelman
2014 “Off The Wall”, Danforth Art Museum, Honorable Mention, Jennifer Gross, juror
2013 “Lesley Cohen: Visible Trace @ Bromfield Gallery”, Boston Art Underground, by
Maryam Keramaty
2013 Review, Boston Globe, June 11, by Cate McQuaid,
1985 “A Portable Exhibition”, Bostonia magazine, April/May
1981 “Mass Teachers Association Art Exhibit”, First Prize, Boston, MA
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Taught art in public schools in the mid-west and east coast, in addition to an adjunct
professorship at Boston University School for the Arts.
EDUCATION
Boston University, Boston, MA, MFA
State University College of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, BS
Rochester Institute of Technology, School of Art and Design, NY
