CV & BIO

Beatriz E. Ledesma is a professional painter, writer, educator, and psychotherapist based in Chicago, IL. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her work is about issues of emotional, spiritual, and social construct expressed in symbolic & surreal language.

Her interest for the practical applications of psychoanalysis and art for the purpose of healing and empowerment inspired her to obtain a Ph.D (2009) focusing on the use of art-making in the clinical treatment of adults. She attended The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she graduated with an MAAT/MFA (1988).

Ledesma is self employed @ Ledesma Studio Ltd. holding her art and clinical practice.

SELECTED SOLO SHOWS:

2019 “Tribal Language”, Oliva Gallery, Chicago
2018 "Bridges over Obstacles", Oliva Gallery, Chicago
2016 Wishbone Restaurant Gallery, Chicago
2014 Rogers Park Public Library, Chicago
2011 Edna Manley College, Kingston, Jamaica
2010 Elephant Room Gallery, Chicago, IL
2008 Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago, Il
2002 “Willing to live in Uncertainty”, Swedenborg Library, Chicago
2000 “Inner Journeys”, Arlington Heights Memorial Public Library

SELECTED GROUP SHOWS:

2024 HERSTORY, Viridian Contemporary Art Gallery, NYC

2023 “Giftfullness”, Viridian Contemporary Art Gallery, NYC

“The Happiness Show”, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chicago

“Scapes”, Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL

Intuitive Center for Outsider Art- Gala, Chicago

“Women Life Freedom”, Women Made Gallery, Chicago, IL

2022 Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL

“Vision of Hope”, Stola Gallery, Chicago, IL
Luminous-CAVA, Berger Park-Gunder Masion, Chicago, IL
“Democracy in Danger”, Stola Contemporary Arts, Chicago, IL
FEMINA-2022, Gallprium, Ontario, Canada
“ARTE LATINO NOW-2022”, Queen University, NC
2021 CAVA Members’ Show, Edgewater Historical Center, Chicago, IL
WOMEN in ART, Online Exhibition, Laguna Arts Gallery, CA
“ARTE LATINO NOW”, Queen University, NC
2020 HOME- virtual exhibition, Women Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
Jones Gallery, Kansas, MO
The Samara State Institute of Culture, SERVAS ORG., Russia
2019 “Ritual & Spirituality”, The Art Center Highland Park, IL
Gallery Studio Oh, Chicago, IL
“Women’s Work”,Old Court House Art Center, IL
"Art Diaries", 4ArtSpace Gallery, Chicago
“Impact Color, Black & White”, The Art Center Highland Park, IL
“Real People”, Old Courthouse Arts Center, Woodstock, IL
Small Works Online Exhibition, Trestle Gallery, NYC
2018 “ARTE LATINO NOW”, Queen University, NC
"Reinvention II", ARC Gallery, Chicago
2017 “Broken Borders”, Oliva Gallery, Chicago
“Hearts Art”, Fulton Art Collective, Chicago
“Where the Streets Have No Fear”, Calles & Suenos
Gallery, Chicago
2016 “Holiday Small Works”, Limner Gallery, Hudson
Ledesma- Zwierzynski, William Harris Lee Co., Chicago
2015 Ledesma-Randolph, ICANA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2013 “The Sacred Show”, Uptown Arts Center, Chicago
2012 “Two Perspectives in Color: Randolph-Ledesma”, Chicago
Maya Malioutina Studio Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2008 Morris College, Chicago, Il
2007 Ossia Gallery, Chicago, Il
2004 Claudia Andersen Gallery, Chicago
2003 “40 x 40: Forty By Forty”, Apollo Theater, Chicago, IL

CURATION:

2007 “Painting and Printmaking: The Work of Bert Menco & Beatriz Ledesma”, Chicago
“Four Women in One Space. The Work of Goldman, Hill, Ledesma & Petty”, Chicago
2006 “Three Women Artists: Cole, Glyman, Ledesma”, Chicago
2004 “Madrid & Chicago- Wokrs by Carmen Gonzales & Beatriz Ledesma”, Chicago
1995 “Art as a Form of Healing”, Uptown Public Library, Chicago
“Menarche Menses and Menopause- Women & The Way of the Blood”, WMG
1994 “Symbolic Visions”, Women Made Gallery, Chicago
1993 “Young Latin American Artists”, El Nandu Restaurant, Chicago
1992 “ARTicipate”, Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago
“Teen of All Nations/ Summer Program”, Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago
1991 “Children Expressions”, Hull House & Stockton Elementary School, Chicago
1989 “A Voice in the Matter”, CWCA Juried Exhibition @ Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS:

2011 “Spiritual Resonances. Jamaica”- Painting & Music, Edna Manley
College, Kingston, Jamaica
2008 Mahler Song Cycles with Oswald Iraheta, Ossia Gallery
2007 Fundraising for ICA (International Chamber Artists), Chicago
1997 “Incantation” directed by Dina Morelli, Links Hall Studio, Chicago
1993 “Toward Diane Arbus” directed by Natsu Nakashima,
Randolph Gallery

HONORS AND AWARDS:

2023 Award of Excellence, CAVA @ Epiphany Center for the Arts

2022 Illinois Arts Council-Professional Development Grant
2021 Fulbright Specialist
2019 Circle Foundation for the Arts- Certificate of Excellence, France
2015 IAP Professional Development Grant, DCASE
2008 Illinois Arts Assistance Grant, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago
The Debbie Grant, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1990 to 2005 Illinois Arts Assistance Grant, Illinois Art Council, Chicago
1996 Honorable Mention Grant of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Fellowship,Vermont Studio Center
1995 The Cove Foundation Scholarship, Chicago
1994 Fairfield Savings and Loan, Chicago
1989 to 1993 Community Arts Assistance Grant, Chicago Office of Fine Arts
Merit Scholarship, Evanston Arts Center
1992 Chicago Initiative Grant, Chicago Community Trust Funds
Outstanding Artistic Recognition Award, Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago
1989-1991 Neighborhood Arts Grant, Chicago Office of Fine Arts, IL
Outstanding Artistic Recognition Award, Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago
Merit Scholarship, Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL
1990 Outstanding Artistic Service Award, Boulevard Arts Center, Chicago
1986 to 1988 Smith Scholarship, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:

Heresies Collection, Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives

Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Campus

College of Dupage, Dupage, IL

ART ASSOCIATIONS:

The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists

Women Made Gallery

Morbid Anatomy, NYC