(detail) Anahita, Danami, and Roya, 72″ x 60″ oval, Oil, pastel, and acrylic on canvas, 2017, by Leslie Barlow

Paintings by artist Leslie Barlow will be on display in the sanctuary and social hall gallery at First Universalist Church January 7 – February 4. Primarily an oil painter, Leslie’s work explores complex social issues like race, multiculturalism, “otherness,” and identity. She investigates these through the use of the personal; revealing her own experiences as a mixed-race woman living in Minnesota. Her works often depict family, friends, and people in her community to reflect the subtle and not-so-subtle integrations of these ideas into individual lives and identities.

Many of the paintings which are on display at church are from Leslie’s Loving series. These paintings have gained wide recognition. In 2017 Leslie received a Foundation Award in the Minnesota State Fair Juried Exhibition for a large oil painting from this series. She has appeared on TPT’s Minnesota Original, on the Minnesota Monthly Magazine’s list of “Best New Art 2016,” and was selected as “Artist of the Year” for 2016 in City Pages. In 2016 she was commissioned by the Minnesota Vikings to create six portrait paintings of iconic Vikings players.

Leslie will be available to talk about her work in the social hall after both services (10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.) on Sunday, Jan. 14.