About Me
Leslie Morley
I’m a creator, seeker, mother, and artist. My artistic work has ranged from large-scale commissions—like a six-by-twelve-foot painting for a private collector—to small, imaginative projects such as fairy houses made with my little girl.
In my current body of work, Held and Known, I explore our connection with the Divine Family—Father, Mother, and Jesus Christ—who know us fully and hold us close.
MY STORY
"I find joy in creation. Whether I am engaging in God’s creations or exercising my own creative power, my spirit celebrates!"
- Leslie Morley -
Formative Years
As a child, my mom taught me to see the wonder in God's creations. Some of my earliest memories are pausing on bike rides to listen to the woodpeckers, wandering around at dusk to catch cute little frogs or fireflies, or stopping in the middle of the night during long road trips to admire the uncountable stars. Now, a few decades later, she and I still pause on our hikes to admire the owl twisting his head, harvest fresh bundles of lilacs to sniff as we continue our walk, or accept the invitation of the shimmering lake to "come and swim" as the sunset turns the water to gold.
She also taught me to cherish and grow my own creativity. A summer afternoon of laying mosaic stepping stones for the garden, a birthday gift of vibrant and beautiful watercolor paints, and a kind generous ear to late-night poetry listening.
That same sense of wonder has followed me across continents—watching the Huashan mountains turn gold at sunrise, studying frescoes in quiet Italian basilicas, or standing amid the rhythm of music and dance beside a Nepalese temple. Wherever I go, creation calls to me. It grounds me in the truth that we are not separate from heaven’s beauty, but participants in it.
This lifelong celebration of creation—of earth, motherhood, memory, and God—has become the heartbeat of my artistic practice. Painting is where I honor what I’ve been given, and where I offer something back. Through each piece, I hope to invite others into that same quiet wonder: a place where divinity feels close, light is ever-present, and creation continues to unfold within and around us.
Education and Study
I began my studies in art at Southern Utah University and later pursued Art History in Italy. While the technical mastery of the great artists left me in awe, it was their faith that truly inspired me. Their devotion and testimonies seemed to whisper out of the cracked and fading frescos, echo around the domed mosaics, and stand firm among the marble statues.
It was in those sacred spaces that I realized I, too, had a voice to share.
My art has become a way to explore faith, divinity, and the shared humanity that connects us all. Over time, my paintbrush has become a torch—guiding me as I seek light, understanding, and connection through the creative process.
My prayer is that heaven will magnify my small offering, and that those who encounter my work might feel their own hearts lifted toward light.
