Leslie Hutto is a native of Hyde Park NY. She has a natural love for animals, and has been deeply involved in the “dog world” from a very young age. Her passion for animals combined with encouragement for the arts from her both her parents and grandparents, led her to sculpture in high school. She received her first commission at age 16, and received a partial scholarship from the National Sculpture Society to study classical sculpture under Elisabeth Gordon Chandler and Michael Lantz at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
Since her passion was sculpting animals, she later continued on to enroll in SUNY Delhi’s pre-vet program where she pursued an intense study of animal anatomy. She combines her well-rounded knowledge of sculpture, animal behavior, and anatomy and marinates this into her own style of rhythm and flow, capturing the essence of the animal. Her sculptures are known for their intense energy, sense of life and the moment.
Leslie took time off to raise two sons, but continued sculpting part time doing work for dog clubs and pet owners. Her works have been included in Jan E Irving’s Great Dogs Amazing Artists and Woman of Grace series by Judy Ritter. In addition to private collections, both national and international, Leslie’s commissions include public works and monuments for churches, hospitals, academies, dog clubs and associations, notably the Cathedral of St Paul in Birmingham Al, and the Wichita Greyhound Park.
She exhibits annually at South Eastern Wildlife Expo, Sculpture in the South, Sculpture in Savannah, and Easton Waterfowl Festival, and has exhibited at Sculpture in the Park in Loveland Co. She continues to teach dog sculpture workshops to teens and adults.