Leon Yehuda Soriano was born in Zimbabwe on 12th September 1944. He studied art at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town and the Durban College of Arts and Crafts where he was awarded the South African Design Diploma (S.A.N.D.D). He continued his post graduate studies in Europe at the London College of Printing and Design. From 1970 to 1977 he exhibited in the National Gallery of Rhodesia’s annual exhibition of Rhodesian Artists as well as exhibiting at various established galleries. He opened the Art Centre in Harare where children and adults were taught all forms of art and craft. In 1978 he went to South Africa to live and established himself as a teacher of adults and children as well as an artist. He has exhibited extensively in South Africa as well as owning one of the major art shops in Johannesburg, SA Arts and Crafts, and established a successful graphic art School in Johannesburg. Eighty five percent of his students were given gainful employment in advertising studios throughout the city. In June 2000 he moved to Canada, and had a highly successful show in Vancouver in 2001. Here in Toronto he works as a full-time artist and teacher in his studio. On his arrival in Toronto in 2002 he was selected as the principal artist to show at the Ashkenaz Festival in the Harbourfront Gallery. His work is represented in private collections in Canada, the United. States, England, Belgium, Australia and Italy as well as in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.
Leon Soriano is included in the latest edition of Esme Berman’s seminal study of Southern African Art, Art and Artists of Southern Africa (A.A. Balkema, Cape Town)
He is listed in The Collectors Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa(Twenty Two Press, South African Institute of Artists and Designers, Cape Town)
See also:
“Master Painters of the World — Canada” in: International Artist, April/May, 2004, pp.98-103
CANADA (2000 - 2009)
- One Man Exhibition at Incendio Restaurant in Gas Town, Vancouver
- Beaux Art Spring Exhibition at the Jewish Community Centre,
- “Then and Now”, Group Exhibition, Vancouver Community Centre
- “Discoveries”, a debut solo exhibition in Vancouver opened by Kathleen Bartels (the Vancouver Art Gallery Director) at the Sydney and Gertrude Zack Gallery, Vancouver
- One man show at Calloway Framers, New Westminster, British Columbia
- Number Two, A Group Show, Toronto
- “For My Neighbours” presented by Marci J. Kroft Art Consulting
- Solo exhibition at Toronto Harbour Front for Ashkenaz Festival 2002
- Work selected for Group exhibitions at Hummingbird Centre, Toronto, March and September 2003
- Studio Exhibition, Toronto, December 2003
- Spring Exhibition at World of Picture Frames, April 2004
- Exhibited on “Tables of Distinction”, Toronto, May 2004
- Hadassah Noar Chapter Studio tour, June 2004
- Marci J. Kroft, Art Consultant, new studio show, July, 2004
- Weekend outdoor summer exhibition, The Distillery, Toronto, August 2004
- Solo exhibition, Ashkenaz Festival, Labour Day week end, September, 2004
- Studio Exhibition, Toronto, December 2004
- Group Exhibition for Canada Opera, Hummingbird Centre, Toronto, March and November 2004, March 2005, September 2005, March 2006 and May 2006
- Studio Exhibition, Toronto, December 2005
- Group Exhibition for the National Ballet, Hummingbird Centre, Toronto April, June, September, December 2005, March and May 2006.
- Group Exhibition for Mayworks, Rotunda, City Hall, Toronto,May 2006
- Group Exhibition, Artuary, April and May 2006
- Bayview Shopping Centre, Toronto, November 2006
- Toronto Indoor Art Show, Metro Convention Centre, March 2007
- Group Show, Spence Gallery, Toronto, September 2007
- Solo exhibition entitled Discoveries 2, Scollard Street Gallery, Yorkville, Toronto November 2007
- Solo exhibition Spence Gallery, Toronto, December 2007
- Toronto Indoor Art Show, Metro Convention Centre, March 2008
- Group exhibition, Chancery Art Gallery, Bracebridge, March 2008
- Group exhibition Spence Gallery, Toronto, April 2008
- Group Exhibition Israel at Sixty. The Sydney and Gertrude Zack Gallery, Vancouver, August 2008
- Solo Studio Exhibition December 2008
- Latitude 49 Group Exhibition, December 2008
- Toronto Indoor Art Show, Metro Convention Centre 2009
- Group Show Spence Gallery April 2009
- Deja Vu Gallery Bracebridge Group Exhibition April 2009
- Cabbagetown Festival September 2009
- Ottawa Art Expo October 2009
SOUTH AFRICA (1978 - 1999)
- One Man exhibition at Gallery Bijou, Johannesburg
- One Man Exhibition at the Coleman Gallery, Johannesburg
- One Man Annual Exhibitions at the Crake Gallery, Johannesburg
- Work selected for the Royal Palace, Swaziland
- Exhibited at Kuns Nasionaal, Lichtenburg
- One Man Exhibition at Hyde Park Centre, Johannesburg
- Exhibited on a Group Show at the Strack Van Schyndel Gallery
- Two Annual One Man Shows at the Strack Van Schyndel Gallery
- One Man Show for the Union of Jewish Women, Port Elizabeth
- Exhibition at the Strack Van Schyndel Gallery
- Group Show at the Hagenhof Gallery, Johannesburg
- Solo Studio Show, Johannesburg
- Group Show — Mille Fleurs — for Red Cross at Hagenhof Gallery
- One Man Exhibition at the S.A. Association of Arts Gallery, Pretoria
- “The Male Nude” — Studio Exhibition
- One Man Show for the Union of Jewish Women, Bloemfontein
- “American Journal” — Studio Exhibition
- Opened S.A. Arts and Crafts Graphic Art Studio offering a Graphic
- Design diploma (including Applemac Computer training)
- One Man Exhibition in the artist’s studio
- Exhibited etchings on a group show at the Gail Machanik Studio
- Exhibited etchings on a group show entitled “Valentines” at S.A. Arts and Crafts Studio
- Exhibited etchings at the Gail Machanik Studio
- Leon Soriano was featured in an exhibition of etchings at the Ibis Gallery in Nieu Bethesda, Cape Province
- Exhibited etchings at the Natal Society of Artists Gallery (NSA), Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal
- “Sweet Valentine” exhibition of recent etchings
- One Man Farewell Studio Exhibition at S.A. Arts and Crafts Studio
ZIMBABWE (1970 - 1977)
- Work accepted annually for the National Gallery of Rhodesia’s Annual exhibitions
- One Man Show, Tara Art Centre in Salisbury, Rhodesia
- Union of Jewish Women’s Exhibition — “Art Scene”
- Annual Exhibitions at the Standard Bank’s John Boyne Gallery
- Exhibited on the Nedart Exhibition — “New Art from Rhodesia” (South Africa)
- Exhibitor in the Rhodesian Pavilion at the Rand Easter Show (Johannesburg)
- Exhibited at Gallery Delta, Salisbury, Rhodesia
- National Gallery of Rhodesia, Environmental and Experimental Exhibition — Guest Artist
- One Man exhibition at the John Boyne Gallery
- Summer Exhibition at Gallery Delta