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Short & Sweet IV

Marilyn Holsing & Heidi Leitzke

March 21 – April 27, 2024

Selected Works Thumbnails
Marilyn Holsing, A Rickety Arrangement 30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, A Rickety Arrangement

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Arrangement With Cloud  24" x 20"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Arrangement With Cloud (SOLD)

24" x 20"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Artifice  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Artifice

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Ballast  24" x 20"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Ballast 

24" x 20"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Shop

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Broken Wall  15" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Broken Wall (SOLD)

15" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Elaboration  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas On Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Elaboration

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Shop

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Flirt  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas On Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Flirt

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Shop

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, For A Mantle 14" x 11"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, For A Mantle

14" x 11"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Green Sole  15" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Green Sole

15" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Neighborly  14" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Neighborly

14" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Oh Georgia  14" x 11"  Oil On Linen Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Oh Georgia (SOLD)

14" x 11"

Oil On Linen Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Oh Romance  15" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Oh Romance

15" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Sandwich  14" x 11"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Sandwich (SOLD)

14" x 11"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Tribute  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Tribute

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, Upon A Hill 14" x 11"  Oil On Linen Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Upon A Hill (SOLD)

14" x 11"

Oil On Linen Over Panel

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Chain Link  14" x 11"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Chain Link Fern

14" x 11"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Early Summer Bloom 12" x 9"  Gouache On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Early Summer Bloom

12" x 9"

Gouache On Rives BFK

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Echo  8" x 8"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Echo (SOLD)

8" x 8"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Following The Path Of The Traveling Symphony 10" x 10"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Following The Path Of The Traveling Symphony (SOLD)

10" x 10"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Foote Brook Ferns  20" x 16"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Foote Brook Ferns

20" x 16"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Garden Path 16" x 12"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Garden Path

16" x 12"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, In The Grove  24" x 12"  Oil On Canvas

Heidi Leitzke, In The Grove

24" x 12"

Oil On Canvas

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Luna 12" x 9"  Gouache On Arches

Heidi Leitzke, Luna

12" x 9"

Gouache On Arches

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Luna Tree  24" x 12"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Luna Tree

24" x 12"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Miniature Mushrooms 12" x 9"  Gouache And Colored Pensil On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Miniature Mushrooms

12" x 9"

Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Mossy Stump With Dandelions 12" x 12"  Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Mossy Stump With Dandelions

12" x 12"

Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Sunlight Through The Trees 12" x 9"  Gouache On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Sunlight Through The Trees

12" x 9"

Gouache On Rives BFK

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Wildflower Wall  10" x 10"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Wildflower Wall

10" x 10"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Heidi Leitzke, Windstorm 10" x 8"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Windstorm

10" x 8"

Thread, Wool And Acrylic On Linen

Inquire
Marilyn Holsing, A Rickety Arrangement 30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, A Rickety Arrangement

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Arrangement With Cloud  24" x 20"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Arrangement With Cloud (SOLD)

24" x 20"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Artifice  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Artifice

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Ballast  24" x 20"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Ballast 

24" x 20"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Shop

Marilyn Holsing, Broken Wall  15" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Broken Wall (SOLD)

15" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Elaboration  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas On Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Elaboration

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Shop

Marilyn Holsing, Flirt  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas On Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Flirt

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Shop

Marilyn Holsing, For A Mantle 14" x 11"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, For A Mantle

14" x 11"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Green Sole  15" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Green Sole

15" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Neighborly  14" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Neighborly

14" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Oh Georgia  14" x 11"  Oil On Linen Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Oh Georgia (SOLD)

14" x 11"

Oil On Linen Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Oh Romance  15" x 11"  Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Oh Romance

15" x 11"

Gouache On Paper

Marilyn Holsing, Sandwich  14" x 11"  Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Sandwich (SOLD)

14" x 11"

Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Tribute  30" x 24"  Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Tribute

30" x 24"

Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Upon A Hill 14" x 11"  Oil On Linen Over Panel

Marilyn Holsing, Upon A Hill (SOLD)

14" x 11"

Oil On Linen Over Panel

Heidi Leitzke, Chain Link  14" x 11"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Chain Link Fern

14" x 11"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Early Summer Bloom 12" x 9"  Gouache On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Early Summer Bloom

12" x 9"

Gouache On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Echo  8" x 8"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Echo (SOLD)

8" x 8"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Following The Path Of The Traveling Symphony 10" x 10"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Following The Path Of The Traveling Symphony (SOLD)

10" x 10"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Foote Brook Ferns  20" x 16"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Foote Brook Ferns

20" x 16"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Garden Path 16" x 12"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Garden Path

16" x 12"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, In The Grove  24" x 12"  Oil On Canvas

Heidi Leitzke, In The Grove

24" x 12"

Oil On Canvas

Heidi Leitzke, Luna 12" x 9"  Gouache On Arches

Heidi Leitzke, Luna

12" x 9"

Gouache On Arches

Heidi Leitzke, Luna Tree  24" x 12"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Luna Tree

24" x 12"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Miniature Mushrooms 12" x 9"  Gouache And Colored Pensil On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Miniature Mushrooms

12" x 9"

Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Mossy Stump With Dandelions 12" x 12"  Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Mossy Stump With Dandelions

12" x 12"

Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Sunlight Through The Trees 12" x 9"  Gouache On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Sunlight Through The Trees

12" x 9"

Gouache On Rives BFK

Heidi Leitzke, Wildflower Wall  10" x 10"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Wildflower Wall

10" x 10"

Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Windstorm 10" x 8"  Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Heidi Leitzke, Windstorm

10" x 8"

Thread, Wool And Acrylic On Linen

Gross McCleaf is pleased to present Short & Sweet IV, a pair of mini-exhibitions featuring works by Marilyn Holsing and Heidi Leitzke. These southeastern Pennsylvania-based painters focus on the investigation and narrative possibilities of botanicals.

Oil and gouache artist Marilyn Holsing depicts anthropomorphized arrangements that convey their distinct personalities through form and gesture. Flowers are posed in precarious positions, emphasizing strength and persistence. Her seemingly corporeal subjects huddle humorously in vulnerable vignettes, some beaming with pride, while others appear to droop in sorrow. Their leaves stretch and strain as they tenaciously grasp onto neighboring stems, reinforcing the growing tangle.

Short & Sweet IV - Marilyn Holsing & Heidi Leitzke - Exhibitions - Gross McCleaf Gallery

While Holsing’s colors and textures accurately depict the delicate, natural beauty of her plants, there are alluring details throughout that lean into the delightfully grotesque. Thick meaty petals undulate around the stamin like a group of twisting earthworms, and dry stringy tendrils hang from organic growths like curious cilia. Many of the groupings flourish despite being held within tiny wicker baskets and pans, surviving on impossible, sloping hillsides. In addition to a bit of awkwardness, Holsing’s persevering flowers conjure feelings of affinity and compassion. They are the antiheroes of a winding adventure through an immersive paradise.

Marilyn Holsing lives and works in Philadelphia. She has exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond, including, The Delaware Contemporary in Wilmington, Delaware; Melanee Cooper Gallery in Chicago; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; the ICA at the University of Pennsylvania and Field Projects, New York. Her work is included in public collections such as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Woodmere Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Fidelity Investments. She is Professor Emeritus in painting at Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Image Right: Marilyn Holsing, Artifice, 30″ x 24″, Oil And Acrylic On Canvas Over Panel

Short & Sweet IV - Marilyn Holsing & Heidi Leitzke - Exhibitions - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Marilyn Holsing, Arrangement With Cloud, 24″ x 20″, Oil On Canvas Over Panel

Acrylic and thread painter Heidi Leitzke captures the sense of sweetness, warmth and renewal found within the rhythms of her bucolic surroundings. In deep sympathy with Holsing’s world of flowers, she writes, “My process begins with drawing outside, observing and absorbing nature. I feel like my eyes are getting a much-needed massage as I study the shifting light and fleeting shadows in the landscape.”

Short & Sweet IV - Marilyn Holsing & Heidi Leitzke - Exhibitions - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Leitzke’s works focus on the lush, magical moments of rural Pennsylvania. In Miniature Mushrooms, a radiant family of orange fungi push up from the verdant earth like tiny tubas. Garden Path depicts the setting sun casting a warm glow upon a curving path leading toward a quaint structure. Overhead, the large-scale flowers invite viewers to shrink to the perspective of a field mouse. Another fully abstract work, Windstorm, offers a swirl of colors and arabesque ribbons reminiscent of a spring breeze carrying fragrant scents, beckoning to the bees. Leitzke’s scenes are a breath of fresh air and reveal a hopeful world in which nature’s harmonies are available to all who pause to observe them.

Heidi Leitzke is a visual artist, creating works on paper, oil paintings and her signature thread paintings. She has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions around the world, from Lancaster Galleries in Lancaster, PA, where she lives and works, to Swaziland, Africa, as part of the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program. Most recently her thread paintings were featured in “Other Pastures” curated by Chase Dougherty at The Delaware Contemporary Museum of Art, in Wilmington, DE. Leitzke earned her MFA in Painting at Western Carolina University, BA at Anderson University, and studied at Chautauqua School of Art in New York. Leitzke is an Assistant Professor of Art and Director of the Eckert Art Gallery at Millersville University and she serves on the Demuth Foundation Board of Directors.

Image Right: Heidi Leitzke, Miniature Mushrooms, 12″ x 9″, Gouache And Colored Pencil On Rives BFK

Short & Sweet IV - Marilyn Holsing & Heidi Leitzke - Exhibitions - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Heidi Leitzke, Garden Path, 16″ x 12″, Thread And Acrylic On Linen

Exhibition Dates:

March 21 - April 27, 2024  

Reception & Meet the Artists:

Saturday, April 6, 1 - 4 pm