Phillip Leonian

American, 1927 - 2016

Explore selected works

See all 14 works of art
This is a photograph of a cat walking with a blurred tail against a dark background. The cat is in mid-stride, with its tail appearing dynamic and contrasting with the sharp detail of the cat's body and head. The image is in black and white, emphasizing the textures of the cat's fur and the smoothness of the background, creating a dramatic composition that draws attention to the fluidity of the cat's movement.
Phillip Leonian, Boozer the Cat, August 4, 1981, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.8

Boozer the Cat

Phillip Leonian · August 4, 1981 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.8

This is a photograph of a sequence of blurred feet walking across a dark background. The image captures the motion with multiple overlaying exposures of feet in stride, suggesting movement from left to right. The use of long exposure creates a ghostly effect, with the forms appearing almost transparent as they glide over the black surface. The blurred lines and layered textures evoke a sense of fluid motion. The simplicity of the scene, limited to shades of black, white, and gray, emphasizes the ethereal quality of the movement portrayed.
Phillip Leonian, Tony Iglesias Walking, November 16, 1977, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.14

Tony Iglesias Walking

Phillip Leonian · November 16, 1977 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.14

The image shows a person with a woven-like effect from their elbows to the top of their head. They are facing forward with hands on hips, curly hair, a patterned shirt, and jeans with multiple belts. The person's arms and hands have a disjointed visual due to the weaving pattern. They are against a checkerboard background.
Phillip Leonian, Edith Leonian, Secret Identity, November 30, 1974, gelatin silver prints, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.3

Edith Leonian, Secret Identity

Phillip Leonian · November 30, 1974 · gelatin silver prints ·  Accession ID  2025.45.3

The image displays ghostly, translucent lines and shapes blending into one another. Multiple superimposed outlines of a human figure can be seen within the shapes. The composition conveys fluidity and motion, resembling waves or swirling fabric. The dark background contrasts with the blurred white shapes.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Turning, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.11

Carmen de Lavallade Turning

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.11

The image shows a full-body depiction of a nude person captured in multiple exposures or a motion blur effect. The person stands with their arms raised above their head, and their legs are slightly apart. The motion blur obscures detailed facial features and gives the hair a soft, indistinct quality. No clothing, jewelry, or objects are visible. The background is a uniform dark shade, which contrasts with the lighter tones of the person's body, emphasizing the movement effect.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Turning, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.12

Carmen de Lavallade Turning

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.12

The image depicts a person in motion, creating a blurred effect. The person's position is dynamic, with raised arms. The facial features are not clear due to the blur, and their hair is short and dark. Clothing details are difficult to discern due to the blurring, and the lower part of their figure merges into a flowing shape. The background is a solid dark tone that contrasts with the blurred figure.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Walking, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.5

Carmen de Lavallade Walking

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.5

The image depicts a stylized representation of a person's body shown from head to feet in profile. The face and upper body appear blurred and indistinct, suggesting movement. The figure's body merges into a flowing, ethereal form towards the bottom. There are no clothing, jewelry, or distinct objects visible. The background is a solid brown color.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Walking, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.7

Carmen de Lavallade Walking

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.7

The image shows wavy, horizontal lines creating an abstract depiction of a human figure in motion. The blurred lines and overlapping contours resemble ripples of water, suggesting movement and fluidity. The composition suggests a person walking, similar to a time-lapse photo with multiple overlapping images creating a ghost-like figure in a dark space.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Turning, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.10

Carmen de Lavallade Turning

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.10

The image portrays a person in a dynamic pose, with one knee bent and one arm raised above their head. The individual's facial features are not detailed, and they have short hair. The body appears blurred, giving an ethereal quality, with soft, flowing texture resembling fabric. The background is dark and plain.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Walking, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.9

Carmen de Lavallade Walking

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.9

The image displays a person with a motion blur effect. The individual is standing with one arm raised above the head while the other is bent and resting near the torso. Facial features are blurred, and the hair seems to be short or tied back. The person appears unclothed, and the background is plain and dark, emphasizing the figure. There is no jewelry or objects in the person's hands.
Phillip Leonian, Carmen de Lavallade Walking, April 5, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of The Leonian Charitable Trust, 2025.45.6

Carmen de Lavallade Walking

Phillip Leonian · April 5, 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2025.45.6