Leandro Cassiano is born in São Paulo in Brazil, but based in Oslo in Norway, where he has taken his artistic education and lived most of his life. He works in a dynamic figurative style – in both traditional and modern media, continuously seeking on updating and developing his abilities. He has deep and extensive knowledge within the craft of painting – having oil, acrylic and water-glass (sodium silicate) as favorite mediums.

His greatest passion lies in the field of oil painting – with particular interest in old master techniques. This special interest has led him to press, produce and develop his own oils, after extensive searching and learning about many known issues that can be associated to modern, industrially processed artists mediums and paints.

Leandro has strong belief that deep material knowledge is essential, and have a very important part in the artistic process and artistic development. His approach to art and artistic activity has been unconventional, still not fully based on displaying his art on galleries, or other art promoting channels. Much of his time and artistic activities have – beside been a freelancer, been dedicated on research, teaching, development and a tireless will to understand the very principles of the craft, believing that is the right path to follow and that ultimately will lead to creating a truly distinct style. His output is varied and dynamic, showing a willingness to explore, learn,develop and master his mediums both technically and visually

Education:

1993 – 1994:  Merkantilt instituttet, dept. in the arts & crafts
1993 – 1994:  Oslo tegne og male skole – Oslo drawing and painting school,
1994 – 1999:  Statens kunstakademi -The Norwegian National Academy of Arts
2008 – 2009: Noroff instituttet, 3D design and animation.
2011 – 2012:    Senac University of São Paulo / Brazil, studies in 3D design, image and word editing


Exhibitions / activities:

2015-14: Work with murals, div.assignments, drawing and painting courses and engaged in pressing and processing of linseed oils for artists.

2013: Started the first studies on processing of linseed oil; running drawing and painting courses and work with painting assignments and own projects.

2012/11: Course activities including teaching on workshops arranged by other institutions; working as illustrator, with portrait commissions and mural work.

2010: Two group exhibitions at gallery Frie kunster in Oslo, and started his first drawing and painting courses on a weekly basis.

2008-09: Full-time studies in3D design and animation, at Noroff Institute in Oslo. Drawing and painting teacher twice aweek at an private art school in Oslo. Participation in a collective                   exhibition, organized by Gallery Frie kunster.

2007:Work on courses/lessons at the Steiner school in Oslo, for a period of 10 months.

2006: Engaged with various illustration projects for the Norwegian publisher Cappelen-Damm.
Participation in a collective book illustration exhibition, organized by Gallery Grafill.

2005:  Engaged full time as a illustrator in my first children ́s book project, a book name  “God natt lille abbor” (Good night little Perch) written by author Torgeir Rebolledo Pedersen and published by Cappelen-Damm. The illustrations from the book were exhibited at gallery Frie kunster in Oslo, at the same year.

2004:  Gallery Frie kunster, collective exposition.

2003 :  Participated at the “Høstutstillingen” (the Norwegian National Autumn Exhibition) Norway’s largest marking of contemporary art.
Drawing teacher at courses organized by the Nasjonalgalleriet, the National Gallery of Norway.

Represented at the “Høstutstillingen” (the Norwegian National Autumn Exhibition) in 1996, 1997 and 2003.


Awards/grants:

2015: Received a grant from the municipality in Oslo – dept. Innovasjon i kunst og kulturnæringene,(Innovation in the arts and cultural industries) to continue work with hand processing, development and production of ecologic cold pressed linseed oil specially designed for visual artists and artisans.

2013: Received an endowment/project support from Eivind Eckbo Foundation in 2013, to start studies with linseed oil pressing and processing.

2003 – 2001: Have received grants from Norsk Illustrasjonsfond, (Norwegian illustration fund)for my work with illustrations.

1997: Chr. Lorck Schive og hustrus Legat, (fund) grant awarded by the Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo.

….page being updated.