The exhibition titled Plays between Materiality and Energy focusses on his preoccupation with the dynamics between matter and energy that occur everywhere in nature and the universe.

Leo’s painting processes mimic this symmetry.

Leonardo is a newcomer to the district.

He was born in Brazil in 1970 and moved to Australia in 1983 where he lived in Sydney.

Leonardo graduated from COFA, University of NSW with a Master’s degree.

In 2001 he received a scholarship from the art dealer Tim Olsen to study historical oil painting techniques and drawing with the artist Charlie Sheard.

Leo has been exhibiting in various solo and art groups in both project spaces and commercial galleries since 1991.

In 2003 he held a solo exhibition and gave a guest lecture at La Trobe University in Bendigo. 

His work is held in various private collections in Australia, Brazil, Germany, the USA, Italy and Spain.

He was a finalist in the Blake Prize in 2009.

Recently, Leo moved to Kandos to, amongst other things, search for a deeper connection to nature in his art practice.

“Art making is very much a spiritual pursuit. My work over the past decade or so centres on my preoccupation with the dynamics between matter and energy that occur everywhere in nature and the universe.” 

His dynamic paintings include the diverse materials of natural ochre, rubbed sand and watercolour with acrylic on hand-made paper.

His majestic oil paintings on linen, which is much more expensive than canvas, but which provides the texture he is after.

Leonardo’s exhibition will remain open to the public from Wednesdays to Sundays until September 27.

Everyone is welcome to call in for a look.