Jim Leedy was one of the first artists to open a space in the Crossroads District near Union Station, which used to be a stretch of dilapidated warehouses and forgotten shopfronts, but is now hip, and therefore expensive–like Chelsea, only not as pricey. Jim got in before it was hip, or really even known. His gallery is the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, and there’s no other place like it: www.leedy-voulkos.com

Jim’s taught at the Kansas City Art Institute since, I think, the time of the Pre-Raphaelites (just kidding, Jim), and is a legend not just here, but in Europe and parts of Asia. These days he’s best known for his sculptural work, especially in ceramic.

When I was putting together the collection for the Overland Park Convention Center, I chose this piece from Jim’s inventory. Its raw application of paint, and its raw energy, somewhat concerned my more conservative clients, but they learned to dig it. Jim executed the piece back in the early 80s, I think, and it reflects his roots in Abstract Expressionism (rumor has it he once punched a drunken de Kooning in The Cedar on Long Island, but I don’t think that formed him as an artist), which he later left behind.

Anyway, to put it in more direct language, it’s one cool piece, and Jim one cool guy. To view more of his work, just go here: http://www.jimleedy.com/jl/