William Leslie Exhibition: A Retrospective

William Augustus Leslie Jr. was born in Morganton in 1900. For much of his childhood the family lived at 400 West Union Street. He attended Morganton public schools and the Fleet School for Boys in Flat Rock, North Carolina. From 1918–1919 he studied at North Carolina State College and served as the cartoonist for The Agromeck, the college yearbook.

In 1921 William Leslie moved to New York, where he worked in sales and attended the Art Students League of New York and the Grand Central School of Art. By 1929 he was back in Morganton and writing a column called “Hither and Yon” and a cartoon titled “Mountain Joe” for The News-Herald. In the early 1930s he bought The Book Store, which he operated until his death.

William Leslie passed away on November 7, 1966, and was laid to rest in the Leslie family plot at Forest Hill Cemetery in Morganton, overlooking the mountains he loved.

We are delighted to present this retrospective of William Leslie’s work and to celebrate his life and artistic legacy.

Opening Reception: Meet the Leslie family  

Friday, February 6 • 5:30 PM
Refreshments will be served.