Leslie Carpenter-Holt is a self-taught, emerging fine art photographer who lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She first discovered her love for photography nearly 40 years ago while in high school where she learned about photographic principles through black and white film and darkroom processes. She thrived in her photography class and as staff photographer for the high school yearbook.

Working in both black and white and color, Leslie strives to capture beauty in the mundane. Subjects range from traditional landscapes and botanical pieces to more abstract renditions of common sights. Leslie’s common thread through all her disparate pieces is an attraction to texture, shape and form in an attempt to find pattern, harmony and a sense of well-being. Leslie’s philosophy is that photography is not only about capturing light; it is about using light to emphasize what the photographer sees in an attempt to demonstrate the value of the world around us.

Since leaving her 22-year career in health insurance a little over 2 years ago, Leslie has been selected to participate in many juried group art exhibitions throughout the United States. Leslie has exhibited locally at galleries in Chaska, Minneapolis, Stillwater, Wyoming as well as the Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibition. She has also exhibited in galleries in Portland, Oregon; Wichita, Kansas and Marshfield, Wisconsin. Leslie’s work is included in private collections throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area and most recently in Neillsville, Wisconsin.

Leslie has been recognized at the 2019 MWCP Juried Exhibition in Wichita, Kansas where she won the People’s Choice Award in the nature category for her work, “Longfellow Flower”. In addition, five works from Leslie’s Dormant series were published in ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal, an international publication showcasing artist and writers. Leslie was awarded the Gold Artist distinction and the back cover of the August 2019 White Issue. Most recently, Leslie was selected to be part of the permanent collection of Marshfield Health System, a personal achievement in recognition of her endeavor to showcase art as a pathway to health and healing.

Follow Leslie on Instagram at lesliecarpenterholt