Faculty Speakers

• Janice Briggs
• Eduard Casajuana
• Carla Cecere
• Attilio Di Fabrizio
• Marika Gruber
• Alan Hydes
• Angela Imperato
• Leo Kennedy
• Tankut Kofturcu
• Monica Macchelli
• Deborah Marzohl
• Anne Naylor

Guest Faculty

Leo Kennedy, Artist

Leo Kennedy, Artist

I was born at Carlow in Ireland on the 26th of July in 1966, the fifth child of Dr and Mrs A.M.E Kennedy MD. I grew up in Prince Edward Island in Canada until the age of 10 after which we moved back to Ireland.

I attended various schools where I was an average if somewhat distracted student. In school, art was the only subject that I looked forward to and enjoyed although I studied the others too!

After graduating from high school, I studied natural science at University College Cork where, after the first year I received an academic scholarship for high grades. I felt challenged by science and in 1988 I graduated with a first class honours degree.

I then fulfilled a plan I had in mind for some time; I travelled throughout Asia, China, the Philipines and Indonesia. I began sketching on this trip having chosen not to take a camera.

Returning to Ireland I worked in research on the purification of water for two years. Interesting as it was, I felt drawn away from the laboratory in search of a more adventurous life. I travelled more in Central and North America.

I started painting full time in Rome in 1996. I first visited the Amalfi Coast in 1998. It’s easy to fall in love with the beauty of the place and the charm of its people. Come to think of it, there is no better place in the world to learn to paint than here. The Amalfi Coast must be one of the most beautiful places in the world with stunning landscapes and villages on the sea and in the mountains awash in Mediterranean light. I moved up to Ravello in 2000 and remained there until 2007.

Between 2004 and 2008 I did a masters degree in bioethics on a part-time basis in Rome. This was satisfying because I have not lost my interest in science. I wrote on the human genome; molecular biology never ceases to fascinate me.

Up in Ravello I have had several exhibitions of my work and I have a permanent exhibition in Cafe Calce, right there in the Piazza, for those of you who know Ravello! I also have works in two Galleries in Ireland, the Peoples Art Hall in Dublin and the Lee Gallery in Cork.

I am presently working on a web-site for my accumulated works. I have instructed on several occasions, an activity that I find challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. I work on the principle that there is an artist hiding inside of everyone just looking for the occasion to be expressed!! As an instructor I see my purpose to guide and assist, to impart knowledge of the materials and techniques that I have learned; to help people to realise their idea, not mine.

I look forward to painting with you!

To view some of Leo’s beautiful photos on YouTube, click here