RIENEKE LEENDERS received her formal education in the Netherlands. A globetrotter at heart, she is fascinated by people and their cultures and often uses this subject matter in her work. Known for her watercolor portraits, she also uses acrylic and oil and varies her work by painting botanical close-ups.
2014- present: Sabatical
Second time around the world
EXHIBITS AND AWARDS:
2014- present: Thijs and Rieneke started on a second journey around the world.
February 2014
"Facets of Culture" Featured Artist at Hamilton Gallery, Baltimore,MD
January-February 2014
"Romance" Exhibition at Highlandtown Gallery, Baltimore, MD
July 2013
“Local Matters” Invitational Exhibition at d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
August-September 2012
“2012 Biennial” Juried Exhibition Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
March 2012
“Artists Who Teach” Invitational Juried Show at Charles Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA. Merit Award
February –March 2012
Invitational Exhibition at the Art Institute of Virginia Beach, VA
February – March 2012
“The Child” TAA Juried Theme Exhibit at Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
January 27- April 2012
TAA Juried Theme Show “The Child” in conjunction with "Minds Wide Open"
Virginia Celebrates Children and the Arts. Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA. Best in Show
Juror: Leisa Rundquist, PhD, Art History professor at University of North Carolina, Ashville, NC
December- February 2012
"Hidden and Rare" Invitational Exhibition at Linda Matney Gallery, Williamsburg, VA
March- April 2011
"Spring Unfolding: Flora in 2 and 3 Dimensions" Solo Exhibition in conjunction with an orchid show at Arts Center @ 319, Smithfield, VA
April- May 2010
"Hyper Realism" Invitational Exhibition at Mayer Fine Art Gallery, Norfolk, VA
March- April 2010
"Women of the World" as part of the statewide initiative "Minds Wide Open" at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Danville, VA
January 2010
"Too Terrific Two" Invitational at One-Eleven Gallery, Norfolk, VA
December 2009
TAA Annual Juried Miniature Show at One- Eleven gallery, Norfolk, VA
November 2009
"Small Works" Invitational Show at Charles H. Taylor Arts Center Hampton, VA
September October 2009
Virginia Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition, Lorton Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, VA
August 2009
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach Campus, Virginia Beach, VA
September, October 2008
"Family of Man" Invitational Show at Charles H. Taylor Arts Center in Hampton, VA
May 2008
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center. Clifton Forge, VA
March 2008
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Ballator Gallery, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
January 2008
"Dare to Dream" Juried Exhibition at 111 Gallery, Norfolk, VA. Best in Show.
Juror: Chris Tompkins, Art Professor at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University
August 2007
Feature Artist, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA
March 2007
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Mosely Gallery, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD
October-December 2006
Suffolk Art League 2006 Juried Exhibition, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA. Best in Show
Juror: Rebecca Humphrey, Professor Emeritus of James Madison University
August 2006
“Hampton Bay Days” Juried Exhibition at Charles H. Taylor Center for the Arts, Hampton, VA. Watercolor Award
July – August 2005
“The Many Faces of Rieneke Leenders” Solo Exhibition at the Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA
May 2005
Virginia Watercolor Society Juried Show at McGuffy Arts Center, Charlottesville, VA
May 2005
“New Waves 2005” Juried Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Honorable Mention. Jurors: Grady Turner, art critic for publications like New York Times, Art News, Art in America, curator in New York City, and Sarah Finlay, co-owner and director of Fusebox Gallery in Washington, DC
April 2005
“Women of the World” Solo Exhibition at the World Bank, Washington, DC
October-December 2004
Suffolk Art League 2004 Annual Juried Exhibition, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk. Best in Show.
Juror: Susan Fecho, professor and chair Visual Arts at Barton College, Wilson, NC
September – October 2004
“Artists painting in Water Media” Invitational Exhibition at Hermitage Museum, Norfolk, VA
June – August 2004
“Women of the World” Solo Exhibition at Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
June 2004
“Korean & American Exchange Exhibition” at Daegu Culture & Arts Center, Daegu, South Korea
April – May 2004
“Mid-Atlantic” Juried Exhibition at d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA. Ed Carson Award
April – May 2004
“New Waves 2004” Juried Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Beach, VA
December – February 2004
“Cross Currents” Five artists’ take on cultural identities, Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
September-November 2003
Suffolk Art League 2003 Annual Juried Exhibition, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA. Judy Oswald Award
May 2003
CBW Spring Show at Cape Henri Collegiate, Virginia Beach, VA. Best in Show
April 2003
“New Waves 2003” Juried Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Beach, VA. Best in Show
Juror: Annie Adjchavanich, Executive director Washington Project for the Arts, Corcoran
January 2003
TAA Annual Juried Miniature Exhibition at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, VA. Best in Show
November– January 2003
TAA Annual Juried Portfolio Exhibition at the Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
Honorable Mention
June - July 2002
“Side by Side” National Watercolor Society and Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Juried Members Exhibition
at the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art in Collegeville, PA
June 2002
CBW Miniature Show at the Artists Gallery, Va. Beach, VA. Best in Show
May 2002
CBW Spring Show at Cape Henri Collegiate, Va. Beach, VA. Second Place
May 2002
“2002 Florida Invitational” at Main Street Galleries in Perry, FL
April - May 2002
Virginia Watercolor Society 23rd Juried Exhibition at King William Regional Arts Center, Abingdon, VA
April – May 2002
“New Waves 2002” Juried Art Show at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA
January 2002
“Glimpses of the Past” Solo Exhibition at the Commons Gallery of the Sacred Heart Church, Norfolk, VA
November – December 2001
TAA Annual Juried Portfolio Exhibition at the Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA. Second Place
September - October 2001
“Indian Summer” TAA Juried Exhibition at Taylor Center for the Arts, Hampton, VA. Honorable Mention
June - August 2001
VWS 22nd Juried Exhibition at the Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA. First Union Securities Award + People’s Choice Award
Juror: Catherine Chang Liu, artist, educator
June 2001
CBW Spring Show at the Artist’s Gallery, Va. Beach, VA. Third Place
May 2001
9th Annual International Miniature Art Show, at Seaside Gallery, Nags Head NC
April - May 2000
VWS 21st Juried Exhibition at Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, VA
March 2000
National Watercolor Society Members Juried Exhibition. Brand Library and Art Center, Glendale, CA
February 2000
“Grand Exhibition” International Juried Exhibition, Sheraton Suites, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. First Place
Juror: Michael Wolf, director of Wolf’s Fine Arts Auctioneers, Cleveland, OH
January – February 2000
“Water Works” Exhibition with Susan Check at the Rawls Museum, Courtland, VA
November 1999
“The Best of Hampton Roads” Exhibit of area winners at Crestar Bank, Norfolk, VA
October 1999
“Water Works” Exhibition of watercolors with Susan Check at the Clarion Hotel, Norfolk, VA
September – October 1999
Peninsula Fine ArtsCenter Juried Exhibition 1999, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA. Realist Painting Award
Juror: Kinshasa Holman Conwill, Director of the Studio Museum, Harlem NY
May 1999
TAA Miniature Show Exchange , City Hall Gallery in Epe, the Netherlands
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS:
The World Bank Group, Washington, DC
Dollar Tree Stores, Chesapeake, VA
Obici Hospital, Suffolk, VA
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach Campus, VA
EDUCATION:
1970 – 1971 Akademie voor Kunst en Industrie, Enschede, the Netherlands
1971 – 1974 Vakschool Schoonhoven in Schoonhoven, the Netherlands : Gold- and Silversmith
1974 – 1975 Internship at Peter Kochuta Jewellers in Toronto, Canada
1982 – 1983 Vrije Akademie in Venlo, Netherlands: Sculpture in Clay and Wood
1983 – 1985 Sculpture classes with Wim Rijvers in Kessel, Netherlands: Sculpture in clay and bronze
1986 – 2004 Watercolor workshops with Z. L. Feng, Doug Walton, Polly Hammett, Pat Dews, Alex Powers
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
2002- 2005 Member of the Board of Directors of d’Art Center in Norfolk, VA
2002- 2005 President of Tidewater Artists Association
2001- 2005 Resident artist at d’Art Center in Norfolk, VA
1998 -2000 Committee Chair Visual Arts for the Multicultural Alliance of Virginia
1997 -1998 President of the Virginia Watercolor Society
1997 -1998 Treasurer of the Multicultural Alliance of Virginia
1995 -1996 Vice President of the Virginia Beach Multicultural Arts Committee
1995 -1996 Secretary of the Virginia Beach Association for the Gifted and Talented
1995- 2002 Secretary of the Chesapeake Bay Watercolorists
1993 -1995 President of Nederlands Contact in Tidewater (Dutch Club)
1987 -1996 Volunteer in Education; program for the gifted, especially the Art Department at the Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented in Virginia Beach, VA
TEACHING APPOINTMENTS: Over the last 15 years with: The Hermitage Museum Foundation, Norfolk, VA; Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA; Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA; The Artists Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA. Continuous classes at Jerry’s Artarama and from home studio, both in Virginia Beach, VA.
2014- present: Sabatical
Second time around the world
EXHIBITS AND AWARDS:
2014- present: Thijs and Rieneke started on a second journey around the world.
February 2014
"Facets of Culture" Featured Artist at Hamilton Gallery, Baltimore,MD
January-February 2014
"Romance" Exhibition at Highlandtown Gallery, Baltimore, MD
July 2013
“Local Matters” Invitational Exhibition at d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
August-September 2012
“2012 Biennial” Juried Exhibition Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
March 2012
“Artists Who Teach” Invitational Juried Show at Charles Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA. Merit Award
February –March 2012
Invitational Exhibition at the Art Institute of Virginia Beach, VA
February – March 2012
“The Child” TAA Juried Theme Exhibit at Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
January 27- April 2012
TAA Juried Theme Show “The Child” in conjunction with "Minds Wide Open"
Virginia Celebrates Children and the Arts. Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA. Best in Show
Juror: Leisa Rundquist, PhD, Art History professor at University of North Carolina, Ashville, NC
December- February 2012
"Hidden and Rare" Invitational Exhibition at Linda Matney Gallery, Williamsburg, VA
March- April 2011
"Spring Unfolding: Flora in 2 and 3 Dimensions" Solo Exhibition in conjunction with an orchid show at Arts Center @ 319, Smithfield, VA
April- May 2010
"Hyper Realism" Invitational Exhibition at Mayer Fine Art Gallery, Norfolk, VA
March- April 2010
"Women of the World" as part of the statewide initiative "Minds Wide Open" at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Danville, VA
January 2010
"Too Terrific Two" Invitational at One-Eleven Gallery, Norfolk, VA
December 2009
TAA Annual Juried Miniature Show at One- Eleven gallery, Norfolk, VA
November 2009
"Small Works" Invitational Show at Charles H. Taylor Arts Center Hampton, VA
September October 2009
Virginia Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition, Lorton Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, VA
August 2009
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach Campus, Virginia Beach, VA
September, October 2008
"Family of Man" Invitational Show at Charles H. Taylor Arts Center in Hampton, VA
May 2008
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center. Clifton Forge, VA
March 2008
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Ballator Gallery, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
January 2008
"Dare to Dream" Juried Exhibition at 111 Gallery, Norfolk, VA. Best in Show.
Juror: Chris Tompkins, Art Professor at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University
August 2007
Feature Artist, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA
March 2007
"Women of the World" Solo Exhibition at Mosely Gallery, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD
October-December 2006
Suffolk Art League 2006 Juried Exhibition, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA. Best in Show
Juror: Rebecca Humphrey, Professor Emeritus of James Madison University
August 2006
“Hampton Bay Days” Juried Exhibition at Charles H. Taylor Center for the Arts, Hampton, VA. Watercolor Award
July – August 2005
“The Many Faces of Rieneke Leenders” Solo Exhibition at the Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA
May 2005
Virginia Watercolor Society Juried Show at McGuffy Arts Center, Charlottesville, VA
May 2005
“New Waves 2005” Juried Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Honorable Mention. Jurors: Grady Turner, art critic for publications like New York Times, Art News, Art in America, curator in New York City, and Sarah Finlay, co-owner and director of Fusebox Gallery in Washington, DC
April 2005
“Women of the World” Solo Exhibition at the World Bank, Washington, DC
October-December 2004
Suffolk Art League 2004 Annual Juried Exhibition, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk. Best in Show.
Juror: Susan Fecho, professor and chair Visual Arts at Barton College, Wilson, NC
September – October 2004
“Artists painting in Water Media” Invitational Exhibition at Hermitage Museum, Norfolk, VA
June – August 2004
“Women of the World” Solo Exhibition at Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
June 2004
“Korean & American Exchange Exhibition” at Daegu Culture & Arts Center, Daegu, South Korea
April – May 2004
“Mid-Atlantic” Juried Exhibition at d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA. Ed Carson Award
April – May 2004
“New Waves 2004” Juried Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Beach, VA
December – February 2004
“Cross Currents” Five artists’ take on cultural identities, Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
September-November 2003
Suffolk Art League 2003 Annual Juried Exhibition, Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA. Judy Oswald Award
May 2003
CBW Spring Show at Cape Henri Collegiate, Virginia Beach, VA. Best in Show
April 2003
“New Waves 2003” Juried Exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Beach, VA. Best in Show
Juror: Annie Adjchavanich, Executive director Washington Project for the Arts, Corcoran
January 2003
TAA Annual Juried Miniature Exhibition at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, VA. Best in Show
November– January 2003
TAA Annual Juried Portfolio Exhibition at the Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
Honorable Mention
June - July 2002
“Side by Side” National Watercolor Society and Pennsylvania Watercolor Society Juried Members Exhibition
at the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art in Collegeville, PA
June 2002
CBW Miniature Show at the Artists Gallery, Va. Beach, VA. Best in Show
May 2002
CBW Spring Show at Cape Henri Collegiate, Va. Beach, VA. Second Place
May 2002
“2002 Florida Invitational” at Main Street Galleries in Perry, FL
April - May 2002
Virginia Watercolor Society 23rd Juried Exhibition at King William Regional Arts Center, Abingdon, VA
April – May 2002
“New Waves 2002” Juried Art Show at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA
January 2002
“Glimpses of the Past” Solo Exhibition at the Commons Gallery of the Sacred Heart Church, Norfolk, VA
November – December 2001
TAA Annual Juried Portfolio Exhibition at the Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA. Second Place
September - October 2001
“Indian Summer” TAA Juried Exhibition at Taylor Center for the Arts, Hampton, VA. Honorable Mention
June - August 2001
VWS 22nd Juried Exhibition at the Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA. First Union Securities Award + People’s Choice Award
Juror: Catherine Chang Liu, artist, educator
June 2001
CBW Spring Show at the Artist’s Gallery, Va. Beach, VA. Third Place
May 2001
9th Annual International Miniature Art Show, at Seaside Gallery, Nags Head NC
April - May 2000
VWS 21st Juried Exhibition at Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville, VA
March 2000
National Watercolor Society Members Juried Exhibition. Brand Library and Art Center, Glendale, CA
February 2000
“Grand Exhibition” International Juried Exhibition, Sheraton Suites, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. First Place
Juror: Michael Wolf, director of Wolf’s Fine Arts Auctioneers, Cleveland, OH
January – February 2000
“Water Works” Exhibition with Susan Check at the Rawls Museum, Courtland, VA
November 1999
“The Best of Hampton Roads” Exhibit of area winners at Crestar Bank, Norfolk, VA
October 1999
“Water Works” Exhibition of watercolors with Susan Check at the Clarion Hotel, Norfolk, VA
September – October 1999
Peninsula Fine ArtsCenter Juried Exhibition 1999, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA. Realist Painting Award
Juror: Kinshasa Holman Conwill, Director of the Studio Museum, Harlem NY
May 1999
TAA Miniature Show Exchange , City Hall Gallery in Epe, the Netherlands
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS:
The World Bank Group, Washington, DC
Dollar Tree Stores, Chesapeake, VA
Obici Hospital, Suffolk, VA
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Old Dominion University, Virginia Beach Campus, VA
EDUCATION:
1970 – 1971 Akademie voor Kunst en Industrie, Enschede, the Netherlands
1971 – 1974 Vakschool Schoonhoven in Schoonhoven, the Netherlands : Gold- and Silversmith
1974 – 1975 Internship at Peter Kochuta Jewellers in Toronto, Canada
1982 – 1983 Vrije Akademie in Venlo, Netherlands: Sculpture in Clay and Wood
1983 – 1985 Sculpture classes with Wim Rijvers in Kessel, Netherlands: Sculpture in clay and bronze
1986 – 2004 Watercolor workshops with Z. L. Feng, Doug Walton, Polly Hammett, Pat Dews, Alex Powers
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
2002- 2005 Member of the Board of Directors of d’Art Center in Norfolk, VA
2002- 2005 President of Tidewater Artists Association
2001- 2005 Resident artist at d’Art Center in Norfolk, VA
1998 -2000 Committee Chair Visual Arts for the Multicultural Alliance of Virginia
1997 -1998 President of the Virginia Watercolor Society
1997 -1998 Treasurer of the Multicultural Alliance of Virginia
1995 -1996 Vice President of the Virginia Beach Multicultural Arts Committee
1995 -1996 Secretary of the Virginia Beach Association for the Gifted and Talented
1995- 2002 Secretary of the Chesapeake Bay Watercolorists
1993 -1995 President of Nederlands Contact in Tidewater (Dutch Club)
1987 -1996 Volunteer in Education; program for the gifted, especially the Art Department at the Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented in Virginia Beach, VA
TEACHING APPOINTMENTS: Over the last 15 years with: The Hermitage Museum Foundation, Norfolk, VA; Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA; Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA; The Artists Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA. Continuous classes at Jerry’s Artarama and from home studio, both in Virginia Beach, VA.
