Biography

"Leone & Macdonald's work arises at the point where poetry, polemic and the properties of materials converge." Hillary Leone and Jennifer Macdonald are American conceptual artists who worked collaboratively as Leone & Macdonald from 1989 - 2000. They created sculptural objects and site-specific installations that addressed contemporary social and political issues, using a broad range of materials, including steel, glass, yarn, sand, ink, photography, video, light, and fire. As one of the first female collaborative art teams, they navigated the polarizing culture wars of the era by producing lyrical, provocative works that invited deliberate contemplation. While many of their peers self-identified as painters or sculptors, they slipped between the labels, taking on whatever form suited their concepts. Together, they went in search of new stories that could yield fresh perspectives on our shared humanity. The artists' work was featured in the controversial 1993 Whitney Biennial, a watershed moment for contemporary art, and is in the Whitney's permanent collection. They were among the first women artists to address AIDS in their work. They have exhibited in museums and galleries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, received numerous grants and awards, and lectured widely.