L. Whitley is a native Washingtonian of the District of Columbia. She is a graduate from McKinley Technical High School where she majored in art and studied under the renowned artist, Sam Gilliam. She attended and graduated from the district of Columbia Teacher’s College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Art. While at D.C Teacher’s College she studied under another renowned artist, “Malkia” aka Lucille Roberts. Upon graduation, she did post graduate work at the Catholic University of America in oil painting and portraiture; silk painting at G Street Fabric in Rockville, Maryland.
L. taught on the primary level in the District of Columbia Public Schools system for 30+ years until retirement in 2008. Upon retirement she made a conscious decision to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a professional artist. In her work you will see the influences of master artists such as: Michelangelo, Van Gogh and she is most influenced by the works of the surrealist, Salvador Dali.
L. Whitley labels herself as a surrealist, although her artistic capabilities will take you from realism to the abstract. She now resides in Maryland and is continuing creating bodies of work based on the abstract surreal and surrealistic themes.