ABOUT TES ONE

Leon “Tes One” Bedore, Tampa / St. Petersburg based artist.

Known for his signature blend of traditional art and graphic design, Tes confronts contrast in all forms; splicing divisions and redefining the balance. Opposing forces intertwine in subject and substrate. Color and cause run to the edge in full-bleed.

His monograph includes vivid paintings and murals, gallery exhibitions, and commissions by clients such as Nike, L’Oréal, Absolut Vodka and Architectural Digest. Tes One is the founder of the SHINE Mural Festival in St. Petersburg (Est. 2015), and partner at Up&Over murals.

SELECT PUBLICATIONS
Native Weapon Without Reason BLK/MRKT One
Juxtapoz Magazine Flair Magazine FEFE #11
3D Art Book Imago Mundi – Organix Knowledge  Magazine
Art Of Obama Naïve: Modernism &
Folklore in Graphic Design		 Designing Obama

AWARDS & RECOGNITION
  • 2017 – Urban Excellence: Social Impact Award / Tampa Downtown Partnership
  • 2016 – Arts Ambassador Award: MUSE / St. Petersburg Arts Alliance
  • 2015 – Best of the Bay Award: Best Public Art (Critic’s Choice)
  • 2015 – Best of the Bay Award: Best Art Festival: SHINE (Critic’s Choice)
  • 2012 – Best of the Bay Award: Best Local Visual Artist (Reader’s Choice)
  • 2012 – Best of the Bay Award: Best Genre-Defying Artist (Critic’s Choice)
  • 2012 – Best of the Bay Award: Best Visual Art Exhibit – Leave A Message, Morean Arts

2010

Manifest Equality, LA, CA
Advanced Minority, Vienna
Blackbook Gallery, Denver CO

2009

Manifest Hope, Washington DC
WR Gallery, Cleveland, OH
RedLetter1 Gallery, Tampa, FL

Dray Walk Gallery, London
Primary Flight, Art Basel, Miami, FL

2008

C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI
Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL

2007

Primary Flight, Miami, FL
BLVD Gallery, Seattle, WA
Public Trust, Dallas, TX

2006

Foundation One, Atlanta, GA
BLK/MRKT, Culver City, CA

2005

RedLetter1 Gallery, Tampa, FL
Outer Edge Studio, Monterey, CA

Hotel De Arts, San Fran., CA
1300 Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Covivant Gallery, Tampa, FL

2004

Art Prostitute Gallery, Denton, TX
Objex Artspace, Miami, FL
MMoCA, North Adams, MA
C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI

2003

Analemma, Orlando, FL
1300 Gallery, Cleveland, OH

SELECT CLIENTS

 

SELECT EXHIBITIONS

2018

Into Action, Los Angeles, CA
Waging Peace, MoFA, Tallahassee, FL

2016

Truth To Power, Philadelphia, PA

2015

Pound & Bear Hug, Cass Gallery, Tampa, FL

2014

Side By Side, 1am Gallery, San Fran., CA

2013

PCCA Alumni Show, St. Petersburg, FL
Imago Mundi, Biennale Arte, Venice

2012

Live Painting @ Art Basel, Miami, FL
Leave A Message, St. Petersburg, FL

2011

NYC Scope Art Fair – NYC
Art Center, Miami, FL