Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Gabriel.
Hi Leslie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a mom, entrepreneur, creator, graphic designer, painter, gardener, and grandmother!
My path started way back in the day at one of Denver’s high-tech advertising agencies, where I worked as an art director./designer. Seven years in, I stepped out on my own and started Leslie Gabriel Design — which eventually led to another entrepreneurial adventure in marketing and communications, based in Denver, Colorado, with my partner Richard Allen.
Sailing and motorcycle adventures have always been our true passion. But in the back of my mind, I kept feeling the pull to express myself visually. That pull was put on hold when we were asked to handle US marketing for a major sailboat builder in Vietnam — we jumped on it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Several months into the work, major health issues stopped me dead in my tracks.
That’s when everything shifted. My son, a successful artist in LA, encouraged me to start painting again. Then I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m doing great today, and honestly, all of it — the setbacks, the diagnosis, all of it — only made me more determined to create.
In 2025, I had my first art show in Boulder, Colorado.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Inspiration and Roots
After decades as an art director/designer in the corporate world and an independent entrepreneur, I’ve embraced the joy of returning to my artistic roots, creating with purpose and liberation. My initial inspiration came from the English Romantic painter J.M.W. Turner, a master of light and dramatic landscapes.
I strive to distill the raw energy of the natural world: the vast expanse of skies, the unique rhythm of desert landscapes, and the endless waters of the world.
Each piece begins as an original oil painting or oil pastel. Archival giclée prints are then produced on museum-quality paper with pigment-based inks, offering exceptional depth, richness, and longevity. Options include deckled edges or mounting on light or dark-stained birch panels.
My work isn’t behind glass or boxed in by frames — I’m exploring larger formats and mixed media to create something thought-provoking.
What matters most to you? Why?
Authenticity matters most to me. After years of building businesses and chasing other people’s briefs — and after health scares that forced me to strip life down to what’s essential — I don’t have patience left for creating anything that isn’t honestly mine. That’s what shows up in the work now: no filters, no formats I don’t believe in, just what’s true for me.
Now I’m back from the ashes — and this time, painting authentically, on my own terms, not as a side project squeezed between everything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lesliegabriel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslie.gabriel.art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.gabriel.52
