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Lenin Delsol

Artist Bio

Lenin Delsol creates realistic figurative and portrait paintings in oils, watercolors, and pastels. He paints from life with an emphasis on drawing, color, and composition. Praised for his draughtsmanship and color sense, he strives to capture the features of his subjects and convey their personality and mood. As a devoted storyteller, the artist uses his imagination and ability to draw from memory to transform the scene before him.

Delsol resides in Oak Park and paints at his fine art studio located in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. The artist was born and raised in England. In 1978, he and his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Delsol’s enthusiasm and innate talent for drawing led him to enroll at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After graduation, he worked as a comic book artist and illustrator. Soon after, he founded a commercial art studio.

Committed to continuing his art education, Delsol has studied with Steven Assael, David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Burton Silverman, Mary Whyte, and Bo Zhang. He is a longtime member, art instructor, and Vice President of the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. There he teaches classes and monitors various open studios. Eager to help other artists grow, upon request, the artist gives critiques and advice.

Many private art collectors admire Delsol’s artwork. He has shown artwork in international, national, and regional juried art exhibitions as well as in local group shows. His paintings have received honors and awards from the Portrait Society of America, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, and the Black Creativity Show at MSI Chicago.

Teaching

Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Art, 2015 – present

Juried Exhibitions

Museum of Science & Industry Black Creativity Show, 2024

Museum of Science & Industry Black Creativity Show, 2022

Museum of Science & Industry Black Creativity Show, 2021

National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS), Online International, Fall 2020

Museum of Science & Industry Black Creativity Show, 2020

Richeson75 International Figure / Portrait, 2019

Museum of Science & Industry Black Creativity Show, 2019

Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, 2018

Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, 2017

Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, 2015

National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Online International, Fall 2015

Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms, National Afro-American Museum and Culture Center, Wilberforce, Ohio, 2014

Awards & Honors

Portrait Society of America, Illinois Member Show & Competition, 2024, Third Place

Illinois Watercolor Society 40th National Show 2024, Juror of Selection and Awards

Portrait Society of America, Illinois Member Show & Competition, 2023, Best in Show

Palette & Chisel Gold Medal Show, 2019, Gold Medal

Museum of Science & Industry Black Creativity Show, 2019, Second Place

Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, 2018, Outside the Box Finalist

Palette & Chisel Gold Medal Show, 2018, Bronze Medal

National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Online International, Fall 2015, Award of Excellence

Group Exhibitions

Portrait Society of America, Illinois Member Show & Competition, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2024

Perspective: An Exhibition of Fine Artworks Presented By Diasporal Rhythms, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, 2023 – 2024

Not Just Another Pretty Face, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, Illinois, 2023

Portrait Society of America, Illinois Member Show & Competition, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2023

Gold Medal Show, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2019

Summer Suite, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2019

Gold Medal Show, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2018

Intersection, Kimberly Beck and Lenin Delsol, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2018

Summer Suite, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2018

Chicago Artists Interpret American Literature Show, Mary-Frances and Bill Veeck Gallery, Catholic Theological Union Academic and Conference Center, Chicago, Illinois, 2017

Summer Suite, Palette & Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, 2016

Professional Memberships

Illinois Watercolor Society

National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society

Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Art

Portrait Society of America

Oil Painters of America, 2014-2020

Publications

Realism Today, “Step-by-Step Demo: Painting Deandrea’s Portrait”, 2022

bio photo

Photo by Steve Ewert

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I’m grateful for your interest in my work. I look forward to getting to know you and keeping in touch.

Cheers,
Lenin

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