CV — Howard Leu

EDUCATION
Art MFA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Peck School of the Arts, 2025
Art History BA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Letters and Science, 2021

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Sacred Reverie - MFA Thesis Exhibition, Kenilworth East Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
2022 A photo a day 2020, Woodland Pattern, Milwaukee, WI

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025

Society of Photographic Education Midwest Chapter Juried Member Exhibition, Scarab Club, Detroit, MI (October)
HBUT Design Festival, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
Midwest Regional Juried Exhibition, Art Link, Fort Wayne, IN
67th Annual Beloit & Vicinity Exhibition, Wright Museum, Beloit, WI
Address Undisclosed, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI,
Artservancy AiR Exhibition, Gallery 224, Port Washington, WI
Now You See Me: Self-Portraits by Wisconsin Artists, Cedarburg Art Museum, Cedarburg, WI
Enchanted Forest--graduate studio group exhibition, UWM Art Center Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

2024

Homage, Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI
FIBER // FORM, KSE 3rd Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

2023

Perspectives, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Fond du Lac, WI
50th Annual Juried Show, UWM Union Art Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Contemporary Craft Exhibition 2023, Kenilworth East Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Sculpture 2023, KSE 3rd Gallery, Milwaukee WI

2022

Then as Now: Woodland Pattern 40th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibition, Layton Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

2021

REBEGIN, Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

PRESENTATIONS
2025

Sacred Reverie: memories from photographs become testament, SPE Midwest Chapter Conference—Shifting Gears, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI (October)
From Wisconsin to the South of Clouds, Wu Art Museum, Kunming, China
Visiting Scholar Lecture Series, Hubei University of Technology, School of Art & Design, Wuhan, China
Artists Now! UWM Art & Design Guest Lecturer Series, Milwaukee, WI
Archive and Repertoire: Performing the Photo Archive, Urban Ecology Center Photo Club, Milwaukee, WI

2024

Revitalizing Memories of Loved Ones Through Archival Performance, Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

2023

Austronesian Art and Taiwanese Identity, Art and Rituals of the Chinese Minority seminar, Milwaukee, WI
A Sense of Belonging: How Do You Say Your Last Name? Milwaukee Film Festival Cultures and Communities panel, MARN, Milwaukee, WI
Photography in the age of AI-generated art, Philosophies and Concepts seminar, KSE 320, Milwaukee, WI
Union Art Gallery 50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition artist talk, Milwaukee WI (virtual)

2022

The importance of good artwork documentation, UWM PSOA First-year Program faculty meeting, Milwaukee, WI
Artwork Documentation for Professional Portfolio, UWM PSOA Professional Practice seminar, Milwaukee, WI

2021
How to Maintain a Daily Image-making Practice, Urban Ecology Center Photo Club, Milwaukee, WI

CURATION
2017

31 emerge, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI
30th Anniversary Retrospect, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

2016
Who, Where We–works of Stephanie Barenz, Lois Bielefeld, and Barbara Miner, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI

Black Cat Alley Gala exhibition, UWM Kenilworth Building, Milwaukee, WI
BCA Artists at Villa Terrace, Villa Terrace Decorative Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Visiting Assistant Professor, Creative Smartphone Photography
Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China, May-June 2025
Designed and taught a three-week creative smartphone photography course for two cohorts (60 students total, up to nine hours per week per cohort). The course introduced sophomore art and design students to photographic skills and concepts to integrate into their coursework and artistic practice. Taught in English with support from a staff translator as part of a longstanding partnership between HBUT and UWM.

Instructor of Record, Introduction to Photography
UWM, Peck School of the Arts, Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters
Designed and revised curriculum for the course. Developed and delivered lectures on historical precedents and contemporary issues in photography. Created and led demonstrations on digital editing, workflow, inkjet printing, 35mm camera use, film development, and darkroom printing. Students included a mix of art majors and non-art majors.

Project Instructor, Photopolymer Gravure, Advanced Intaglio
UWM, Peck School of the Arts, Fall 2024
Designed and taught a photopolymer gravure module in an advanced intaglio studio course. Developed and delivered lectures on historical precedents and contemporary applications, and led demonstrations and critiques. Introduced a photo-based printmaking process for students to incorporate into their artistic practice.

Teaching Assistant, Photography Survey
UWM, Peck School of the Arts, Fall 2023 and 2024 semesters
Assisted instructor in Photography Survey, a 100+ student lecture course. Graded weekly assignments, led study sessions and held office hours to support students with course readings and assignments.

Lead Instructor, Photography Challenge
Visioneer Design Challenge, 2022 and 2023
Designed and coordinated semester-long photography projects with Wisconsin middle and high school art classes through the Visioneer Design Challenge, a program established nearly two decades ago to connect 6th–12th grade students with professionals in art and design. Collaborated with art teachers to guide students throughout the semester and led critiques and an on-site zine-making workshop during the six-hour “Challenge Day” held at UWM’s photo lab in April.

Instructor, Smartphone Photography
UWM College for Kids and Teens, 2021, 2022
Designed and taught 2-week summer courses for grades 6–12, introducing design principles and smartphone photography/editing techniques. Facilitated group critiques and discussions.

Instructor, Cyanotype and Smartphone Photography
UWM College for Kids and Teens, 2020, 2021, 2022
Designed and taught 2-week summer courses for grades 6–12 in cyanotype printing on paper and fabric. Introduced concepts of light, shadow, tonal range, and composition.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Textbook Manuscript Reviewer
Thames & Hudson, Summer 2025
Reviewed select chapters of Gateways to Photography by Michelle Bogre. Assessed content for beginning-level college students and provided feedback on content regarding concepts, precedents, techniques, and career applications.

Photography Research Intern
Milwaukee Art Museum, Spring 2024
Researched works in the permanent collection and upcoming exhibitions. Corresponded with institutions and archives for verification. Collaborated with registrars to update artwork data in the museum CMS.

Graduate Project Assistant, Photo Documentation Lab
UWM Peck School of the Arts, 2022–2023
Managed the documentation lab and photographed artwork for students and faculty. Documented installations, exhibitions and receptions, and provided guidance on file formatting, archiving, and best practices for artwork documentation.

Creative Director and Co-owner
Artfluent Design and Marketing, 2018–2022
Directed design and marketing campaigns for small businesses and institutions, including the Bucks Foundation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Present Music, and Philomusica String Quartet. Developed branding, visual storytelling, and multimedia strategies to enhance client engagement.

Gallery Manager and Marketing Director
Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 2014–2018
Researched, planned, and curated exhibitions and programming. Installed 10–12 exhibitions and over 250 pieces annually. Directed marketing and communications for exhibitions and year-round education initiatives.

HONORS/AWARDS

3rd place, 67th Annual Beloit & Vicinity Exhibition, Wright Museum, Beloit, WI, 2025
3rd place, Now You See Me: Self-Portraits by Wisconsin Artists, Cedarburg Art Museum, Cedarburg, WI, 2025
3rd place, Wisconsin Visual Artists juried exhibition, 2023
Graduate Student Excellence Fellowship, UWM, 2023-24 & 2024-25
Frederick R. Layton Fellowship, UWM, 2023-24 & 2024-25
Chancellor's Graduate Student Award, UWM, 2022-23
Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship alternate, UWM, 2024-25
Undergraduate Dean’s List, UWM, 2020-21

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND AFFILIATION

Society of Photographic Education, member, 2023-present
Woodland Pattern, Board of Directors, 2019-present
SOFKAG (UWM art grad student association), president and officer, September 2023-2025
Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin, founding member, 2020-present
City of Milwaukee Arts Board grant review panel, 2018 and 2021
Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Museums, Board of Directors, 2017-2019

PUBLICATIONS

Photos for Midwest Express/Wisconsin Center book project (title pending), anticipated late 2025
(title pending) works from 2020, anticipated late 2025
The Art of Art Documentation – a visit with Cleber Bonato, Fishwrapper – Milwaukee Art Museum Staff Newsletter, July 2024
Matthew Lee Warren cover and featured photos, Wisconsin People & Ideas Magazine summer 2022
3.15.2020, Midwest Review 9, 2021

RESIDENCIES

ARTservancy Artist-in-Residence 2024-25. Port Washington, WI

September 2025