Leslie Holt is from Bethesda, Maryland but considers herself a naturalized citizen of St. Louis, MO.  She earned her BFA in Painting at Washington University in St. Louis in 1992 and her MFA in Painting at Washington State University in 2003.  Between undergraduate and graduate school, she worked in St. Louis as a social worker and advocate for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and people receiving welfare benefits.  These experiences have influenced her work, and she has an ongoing interest in the intersection of art and community. Leslie currently lives in St. Louis, MO where she teaches at Fontbonne University, St. Louis Community College, and Lewis and Clark Community College. She has exhibited in various loations nationally and internationally.