Faces Tapestry - Artist Leon Kennedy's - Oakland

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020

Leon Kennedy has created art for more than fifty years in various media, including found materials from the streets of Oakland. He has been an artist in residence at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.  owns one of his pieces. His tapestry, "Oakland Faces", is permanently displayed at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Here's his statement:

Oakland Faces

by Leon Kennedy

2021, Acrylic, beads, cotton, floral stickers, glue on canvas

I am an artist who lives in Oakland.

I painted faces from photographs of people who live in our Oakland community.

God filled my heart with love and grace to see each person’s value

and to paint their face.

When I draw a face I begin with the eyes.

Our eyes speak to one another and show how we feel.

We each are unique. When we come together with our different talents

we can make Oakland a better place to live.

It will take all of us working together to make our dreams come true.

Each one of us has a story.

It is important to share our stories and listen to one another.

By listening we can learn what people are going through.

Our respect and empathy for one another matter.

We all need to know that other people genuinely value and care for us.

We inspire and encourage one another by being truthful about ourselves.

The Love that we each share with one another makes a better community.

I painted people I’ve met at Oakland Public libraries and in community at St. Mary’s Center (SMC). I painted faces I saw in an Alameda County booklet about seniors. Other people include Paul, the Oakland Post editor, Beverly, SMC, an outspoken senior rights advocate and Rita, SMC, who greets people with smiling eyes and warmth.

I look for the best in each person; everyone I meet has potential.

I love to encourage everyone to have faith and to respect and believe in oneself.

Artwork commissioned through a City of Oakland, Cultural Funding Program grant, 2019-2020