Leonard Filgate has worked as a fine artist and illustrator for over forty years. His whimsical and magical images are loved and collected worldwide. He has received many honors and accolades, including the honor of being the featured illustrator for the 2003 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the Edward James Olmos Latino Family Festival in that same year. Two of the children's books he illustrated have been honored with Independent Publisher (IPPY) Awards, Finalist (2003) and Honorable Mention (2006.) He had a large solo exhibition of his work at The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington Delaware in 2005/2006 (see http://www.delart.org/view/exhibitions/rip_squeak.html.) He is also included as one of the children's book illustrators in the traveling exhibition produced by Los Angeles' Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance entitled Every Picture Tells a Story, described as 'a celebration of diversity and tolerance as portrayed in illustrated children's books.' In 2015/16, Leonard had several original works included in the 'Imaginary Worlds' exhibition at the Fresno Art Museum in Fresno, CA.
Leonard became an artist member of the Society of Illustrators in New York City in 2006. He is best known for his illustrations for the Rip Squeakâ„¢ Brand of children's books and art which he co-created with his wife, author, Susan Yost-Filgate.
Leonard is a self-taught artist and works primarily with acrylic on canvas. He was born and raised in San Francisco and currently lives with his wife in a wonderful old home in Fresno, California's Tower District.
In recent years, Leonard has been working on several exciting, unique, and whimsical projects and has made some of his recent and older works available for open edition prints and cards. He is also working on new Rip Squeak images.
You can now find Rip Squeak art on Fine Art America by going to the Rip Squeak Gallery. Also, visit RipSqueak.com.
Leonard Filgate joined Pixels.com Licensing on December 7th, 2009.
