After decades of devotion to lunchboxes, teacher meetings and driving lessons, artist Leonor Anthony now focuses on her spirituality, her education and her art.
Exhibited worldwide today, her pieces reflect her life experience, passion, and personal growth.
Demonstrating that art does indeed imitate life.
Leonor was born in Cuba. Her family relocated to Miami while she was still a young child.
Growing up, she was far more interested in climbing trees, kicking soccer balls and drawing on everything she could get her hands on as long as she had a pencil to draw.
Her family encouraged her to participate in Miss Latin USA beauty pageant at the age of 17. She won this her first and only beauty pageant.
Yet this accomplishment did have an effect, a life changing experience. She spent a year touring many Latin American countries. Met multicultural from diversified background people. This gave birth to materialize an already internal passion. To express her vision, her philanthropic love for humanity through her art. Her art is totally an expression of her life. That she’s touched and that which has touched her.
Ever since then, Leonor has never let boundaries of culture; family or herself affect her dreams and ambitions.
Her perseverance and motivation surpassed the every day schedule of raising three children. She successfully persevered in her career as an actor/model in 2004. She is portrayed d in movies like Wild Things(1998), Amos and Andrew (1993) and Confetti(1996) amongst others. When her youngest children (twin girls) started to drive, she found more time for her Artwork.
I remember Leonor actively participating in all school functions and sports. Our girls were contemporaries in grade and shared similar after school activities. 
Leonor threw herself into developing as an artist, studying technique, painting prolifically, defining her own style and gaining more education.
Earned two Bachelor’s degrees in both Psychology and Art History. Thereafter earning a Master’s degree in Religious Studies. All from prestigious Florida International University with honors.
Throughout al this, she painted, donated pieces to local charities and businesses.
Applied to many juried competitions and pursued every opportunity to expand her audience.
This past September 2013 she exhibited at the Beijing Art Expo in Beijing, China.
There the judges for the NLAPW (National League of American Pen Women selected two of her paintings. Featured in the NLAPW’s website and group’s magazine. This is the oldest women organization in the US. Founded in 1987 for artists, musicians and writers. One of her pieces of art was placed in the top 15 entries-out of 10,000- in All Women International Art.
On May 2013 Leonorr exhibited in Seoul, Korea at the International Art Fair.
Many others exhibits include Twitter Art Exhibit in Los Angeles California. Linus Galleries at Pasadena, California. Residenzia S”LLario Galery at Montepulciano, Italy. Florida International University, Wertheim College of Medicine. National League of American Pen Women in Washington DC. Figurative Art Competition where she won a special recognition award. Tibet Mongalom in Honor of the XIV Dalai Lama, Solo Exhibit in Downtown, Miami. Gallerie La Spirale in Liege, Belgium. Many of these being juried exhibits in which recognitions and awards were earned.
One of my favorites, recently at Red Dot Art Fair, Art Basel, Miami.
As her work becomes increasingly respected, she has turned toward helping others who share her background, inspiration and love for art. Founded the Young Urban Cuban Artists (YUCA) in order to “ show the world that Cuban artists are doing outside Cuba “
Dedicated wholeheartedly to promoting education. Co-founded the Himalayan Community Project (HCP), which benefits children and families in desperately poor Nepal. HCP helps fund classrooms, school buildings and maintenance, as well as sponsoring children’s school enrollment, empowering them as individuals.
Working with the Honors College from FIU, developing a student-study abroad trip to Nepal, where they will work first hand with HCP.
Leonor is helping shape the children of the next generation., as well as broadens the horizons of our students. She holds a special regard for the Honor’s College at FIU. She calls it a “JEWEL”. The University’s best kept secret. She joined its community advisory board in 2012 and has been a vibrant an enthusiastic promoter of Honors.
Recently she donated one of her finest artwork pieces, “INFINITE DANCE”, a re-imagining of a Matisse classic, to the College. It is now on loan to the Herbert Wetheim College of Medicine, displayed in the main lobby of the new Academic Health Center #4 building. Here in Miami’s Florida International University.
Leonor also arranged for the donation to the College of a Jose Marti sculpture by famed Cuban artist, Tony Lopez. This sculpture is placed on loan to the City of Sweetwater, outside the Jorge Mas Canosa Community Center.
The College was honored that she accepted an appointment as Artist-in-Residence this past year 2013.
Leonor works extensively with charitable organizations including, Big Brothers- Big Sisters, United way, Miracle Workers, Loving Soles, and many others.
Leonor was the recipient of the Tiffany’s 2012 Humanitarian Award presented during the Miami Beach International Fashion Week. And has earned many more recognitions.
Her philanthropy, education and most importantly, her art, are all driven by that first experience of expanding horizons. Roadblocks do not limit her and quote “Get out here and find your passion”.
Next spring she will endure The Camino to Compostela in Spain, which she did in 2011. This time accompanied by her daughter Alexandar, Law student at Harvard. Guiding, Art College students in this Pilgrimage. Additionally, she will continue to exhibit her pieces throughout Europe, China and the United States.
My dear friend Leonor Anthony, an artist, amazing woman, mother, daughter, wife, friend, sensitive visionary and Humanitarian.
It is a pleasure and honor for me to know her and share with all of you this story that hope inspires you in any of your future endeavors.
For more information on Lenor Anthony’s work and to view more of her pieces please visit leonoranthony.com
