Statement
Leslie Sheryll: Pick Your Poison

These images were created from 19th century tintypes that I scan and alter. I name each woman so that she has her own identity. Women during that era were restricted to defined social norms and their identity was that of their husbands or fathers. In this series the women are enclosed in spheres. This refers to Darwin’s work in biological determination and the belief that women were the weaker sex. At the time it was believed that men and women inhabit separate spheres. A woman’s sphere was at home as wife and mother. If a woman desired to go beyond her sphere she found her choices limited. Botanical illustration was permitted, as long as it was to confirm the existence of God. Once the study progressed from illustration to science men took over. This also occurred in other fields, for example medicine. Originally women, some known as healers and midwives were dependent upon for healing the sick. Eventually, as women gained too much knowledge men made the practice of medicine their own. My use of plants combines both botany and medicine. Here I use poisonous plants. Sometimes plants heal and sometimes they kill. Though beautiful, these plants try holding these women “in place”. Luckily, women are strong and were not held in place.

Archival Digital Prints Edition of 10

Resumé Leslie Sheryll

Exhibitions/ Awards/ Web /Publications

2017 Griffin Museum of Photography, Online exhibition participant in “Gray Matters.”

2017 Gallery Vivid Foto in Barcelona (Oct. 2017)

10th Edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers

2017 The Gala Awards 10th Pollux Award winner for Children category Series: Sugar and Spice

2017 Arts Council of Princeton, Group Show (Oct. 2017) Princeton, New Jersey

2017 Float Photo Magazine, Female Gaze, Series: Botanicals

2017 Bent But Unbroken, Group Exhibition, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, Michigan

2017 10th Edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers, winner alternative process

2017 L’Oeil de la Photographie Series:Pick Your Poison http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/en/2017/04/22/article/159947873/leslie-sheryll-pick-your-poison/

2017 Riverview, article/interview by Sally Deering “Superwoman Soars at 107 Bowers

2017 Untitled Space, She Inspires, Group Show New York, New York

2017 A Stitch in Time, Finalist Art Scene Today online competition http://artscenetoday.com/juried-exhibitions/stitch-time/

2017 107 Bowers Gallery & ArtSpace, Group Show, SUPERWOMAN, Jersey City, N.J.

2017 Nasty Women Group Show/Fundraiser, Knockdown Center, Queens, New York

2016 Impressa Magazine, On Line Publication http://www.impressaphoto.com/voided-leslie-sheryll/

2016 Berlin Foto Biennale, Berlin, Germany

2016 Underexposed Magazine, Series: Botanicals

2016 L’Oeil de la Photographie Series Mother Nature http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/en/?s=leslie+sheryll

2016 Houston Center for Photography, 34th Annual Juried Membership Exhibition, Houston, Texas

2016 Der Greif Magazine, Series: Mother Nature, 9th Edition

2016 Magna The Working Large Show, Group Show, Tivoli Artists Gallery, Tivoli, New York

2016 Heaven Art and Antiques, Group Show, Asbury Park, New Jersey

2016 Picturing The Garden State (Now), Gallery Bergen, Group Show, Paramus, New Jersey

2016 Finalist Focus, Photo l.a. exhibition, Los Angeles, California

2015 L’Oeil de la Photographie Series The Cult of Womanhood http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/en/?s=leslie+sheryll

2015 The 8th Edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Awards For Women Photographer – Cult of Womanhood Series Finalist

2015 Finalist Charles Dodgson Black & White Award

2015 The 7th Edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers, Portrait finalist, Berlin Germany

2015 Focus l.a. Finalist

2014 Viridian Gallery, Juried Show, New York, New York

2012 Mana Fine Art, Group Show, Jersey City, New Jersey

2010 Newark Museum, Juried Show, Make Something Beautiful, Newark, New Jersey

2009 Viridian Artists Gallery, Juried Show, First Place Winner, New York, New York

2009 Vermont Photo Workplace, Group Show, Middlebury, Vermont

2009 Causey Contemporary, Group Show, Brooklyn, New York

2008 Jersey City Museum, SPRAWL, Group Show, Jersey City, New Jersey

2007 Hoxie Gallery, Group Show, Westerly, Rhode Island

2007 About Photography, Group Show, Victory Hall, Jersey City, New Jersey

2007 Crossroads Gallery, Group Show, Kansas City, Missouri.

2007 Ch’i Contemporary Fine Art Gallery, Group Show, Brooklyn, New York

2006 Jersey City Artist’s Tour, Public Library, Group Show, Jersey City, New Jersey

2005 Jersey City Artist’s Tour, Victory Hall, Group Show, Jersey City, New Jersey

1985 Charlotte Crosby Kemper Gallery, Group Show, Kansas City, Missouri.

1978 WomanArt Gallery, Group Show, NY, New York

1975 University of Kansas, Group Show, Topeka, Kansas