"The sheer delight that comes from making art is why I am a creator: the feel of the brush on the canvas, the smell of the oil paint, the look of pure color straight from the tube, and the satisfaction in composing a photograph that perfectly captures a moment in time."

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Leann Mester grew up in wild, wonderful West Virginia with a passion for art making of all kinds—especially watercolor and oil painting. She attended Kent State University in Ohio where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Art History. Degrees in hand, she made the move to Milwaukee. 

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After a 2013 relocation from the suburbs to the heart of Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, Leann discovered a love of photography and hasn’t stopped snapping pictures since—at home in her adopted city or around the world. Leann is an affiliate of Material Studios + Gallery.