Bio
To poke around “private” – the pass is: thisisleopold
2022 – Summer
I recently worked on the new book, Chunghi Choo and Her Students, about the artist Chunghi Choo. Arnoldsche and everyone involved were fantastic . Dirk and Arnoldsche are so beyond professional and wonderful.
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The catalog for Schmuck* + Image is now available via Arnoldsche Publishers
* In case you don’t speak German “Schmuck” means “Jewelry” in English.
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JEWELLERY + IMAGE
The Grassi Museum of Art, Leipzig, Germany
Almost unnoticed, a collection of contemporary jewelry has grown in the museum over the last decades, which is now coming into the public eye. The objects attest to the gradual emancipation of jewelry design as an autonomous form of artistic expression. But what are brooches, rings, and necklaces without one to wear them? Jewelry can only be realised on the body, as a representation of the self and/or as a symbol of perception to the outside world.
Thus, it is only logical to understand people and jewelry as a unity, and to photograph them with ‘their’ piece of jewelry. Personalities who are connected to the museum in various ways are ‘adorned’ and brought into the frame by aspiring and established photographers. In the exhibition, the pieces of jewelry correspond with the photographic works, making possible a deeper and more mutual perception.
curation: Sabine Epple
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There is also a corresponding publication by Arnoldshe Art Publisher available here: https://arnoldsche.com/us/product/schmuck-image/
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2021 – Winter
P.A.D Retrospective open until February 27, 2022 at the Walter Elwood Museum

In October 2021 the remainder of “Thousands of Dollars for Tea” was acquired by the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2021 – Spring
Check out the interview with EV Grieve about Diamonds, Razors and Champagne:
https://evgrieve.com/2021/04/a-visit-to-leopold-mastersons-diamonds.html
And This: https://alumni.risd.edu/news-events/diamonds-razors-and-champagne
Friday April 9th, 2021 – Friday April 23, 2021
Artists
Marty Allen, Claudia Bitran, Carpo, The Curio, Cory and Nina Against The World, E. Foxe Harrell, Samuel Gassman, Samson Huang, Tamara Johnson, Elle Lexxa, John Manion, Benjamin Peterson, East Village Vintage Collective, Rusty Anchor Antiques, Elizabeth Saloka and Jim Tozzi. Also featuring artworks from Egypt to the 20th century.
In recent years, technology has reformed mass communication into various social platforms on which users can commodify themselves amongst “friends”. Identities are now fashioned out of products and lifestyles that maximize their value within consumer culture. The drunken allure of celebrity media and sponsored content fucks our stream of consciousness with flashes of elaborate luxury items pushing us to demand the next great indulgence. Situated in this orgy of excess, Diamonds, Razors and Champagne examines the unbridled appetite for more, more, more that results from the relentless stroking by commercial media.
The works included span a range of artists, objects and media, from videos to jewelry all the way through to alcohol, this shit bursts with hedonistic decadence while questioning its compatibility with the conflicting desires for lasting survival and self-actualization in the ephemerality of mainstream society. This exhibition manifests our growing tendency to overindulge our senses and seek out newer and stronger addictions. Much like they say in recovery, the first step is denying you have a problem and embracing one’s desires.

2021 Acquisition News
The original Generic Chain was collected by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France. I am honored to be a part of such an iconic collection.

In other acquisition news a collector donated one of my conceptual media works to the Poster House… I will have to discuss that piece at a later date and in a public forum. Black Lives Matter.
2020 – Fall

GRASSIMESSE

2020 – Fall
2019 – Summer
2019

CV / ISH
Education
2011 Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) • Master of Fine Arts (Honors) • Providence, RI
2008 The University of Iowa • Bachelor of Fine Arts • Iowa City, IA
2007 The University of Iowa • Bachelor of Science and Nursing • Iowa City, IA
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Public Collections
2021 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art • Cedar Rapids, IA
2021 Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris • Paris, France
2021 Smithsonian Libraries • Cooper Hewitt, New York, NY
2021 Poster House • New York, NY
2019 Grassi Museum • Leipzig, Germany
2018 Smithsonian Libraries • Cooper Hewitt, New York, NY
2018 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art • Cedar Rapids, IA
2017 Christian Peterson Museum • Iowa State University, Ames, IA
2016 Long House Reserve • Collection of Jack Lenor Larsen • East Hampton, NY
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Honors
2015 Vermont Studio Center • Residency • Johnson, VT
2012 Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) • Fellowship and Residency • Amherst, VA
2012 BRIC Media Arts • Fellowship and residency • Brooklyn, NY
2012 Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide (SPARC) • Brooklyn Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts Grant • Brooklyn, NY
2011 Ox-Bow • Residency and instructor (With Nicole Cherubini) • Saugatuck, MI
2011 RISD Graduate Studies Grant • Affected Productions • Providence, RI
2010 Graduate Fellowship & Teaching Assistantship • RISD Ceramics • Providence, RI
2010 Funded Proposal • Sitings 2010: Museum as Action • RISD Museum of Art • Providence, RI
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Selected Exhibitions
2022 Grassi Museum of Art • Leipzig, Germany • Jewelry + Image
2022 Walter Elwood Museum • Amsterdam, NY • P.A.D. Retrospective
2020 Grassi Museum of Art • Leipzig, Germany • Grassimesse
2020 The Parlor • Frenchtown, NJ • Portraits
2019 Sweet Pass Sculpture Park • Dallas, TX• Away Message
2019 PAD Gallery • New York, NY • On The Lamb
2018 EFA Project Space • New York, NY • Nurtureart Benefit
2018 a space • New York, NY • Fucking Terrible Art Exhibition
2017 BRIC Arts • Brooklyn, NY • Truth
2014 The Emerson • Brooklyn, NY • Masks (Collaboration with Marty Allen)
2014 Katrina Van Tassel Gallery • New York, NY • Digital Skin
2013 Violetscafe • Brooklyn, NY • Fishing in the Dark
2013 a space • Brooklyn, NY • 13|23 Exhibition
2013 Greenville Museum of Art • Greenville, NC • Tongue in Cheek
2012 Ateliers D’Art De France • Paris, FR • The International Film Festival on Clay and Glass: Cup (2010)
2011 Samson Projects • Boston, MA • Chain Letter
2011 RISD Museum of Art • Providence, RI • Video Art Screening: The Cave of Time (2011) • Juried by Judith Tannebaum
2011 Rhode Island Convention Center • Providence, RI • RISD MFA Thesis Exhibition 2011
2011 Gelman Gallery • Providence, RI • Digital Plastic
2010 RISD Museum of Art • Providence, RI • Sitings 2010: Museum as Action, Column
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Publications
2022 Arnoldshe Publishers • Chunghi Choo and Her Students
2022 Grassi Museum of Applied Arts, Leipzig, Germany • Arnoldshe Publishers • Schmuck + Image
2020 Henderson, Aneeka Ayanna • UNC Press • Veil & Vow, Marriage Matters in Contemporary African American Culture
2017 Sharp, Sarah • Tool Book (Volume 1)
2015 Allen, Marty • Cisco Books • Emojis: The Secret Behind the Smile
2014 Masterson, Leopold • Self Published • Volume 1 • Smithsonian Libraries
2013 Masterson, Leopold • Self Published • 13 |23 Catalog (Co-EVERYTHING with Tamara Johnson) • Smithsonian Libraries
2011 West, Anne • Moth Press • Mapping the Intelligence of Artistic Work