I'M LESLIE JOY ICKOWITZ

Everything I do creatively is an expression of love and appreciation. 

My creative journey has taken me to unexpected places with several sparkling facets along the way. In 2009, I created the fashion and lifestyle magazine, VERTICAL Tampa Bay. It was a love letter to our area designed to celebrate local treasures—the people, places, and things we rejoice to discover. I never could have imagined the course of my VERTICAL trajectory which included bringing the magazine’s philosophies to life at imaginative events, a two-and-a-half-year stint as Style Editor for Creative Loafing and four years as an on-air fashion and lifestyle correspondent for the CBS affiliate where I earned the title, “Purveyor of Fabulous” from the show’s executive producer. 

Discovering my interest in photography felt like finding a gift with a gorgeous bow on top. Photography enables me to picture the world just as I wish to. I am attracted to cities, objects, fashion and natural environments. Composition is my favorite part of photography and for the most part, I compose my images in camera—using lines, angles, shadows, reflections and creating my own shapes. I derive pleasure from looking at things that are often overlooked—the random, seedy, ugly scenes—and celebrating them through my lens as compelling, even beautiful. 

Following a trip to Cuba in 2015, I emerged as a celebrated destination photographer. I have been fortunate to be granted solo photography exhibits at Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in Tampa, the Studio@620 in St. Petersburg, and most recently at Dunedin Fine Art Center in 2022. 

It's an honor and a blessing to be collected by loyal fans, many of whom have multiple Leslie Joy Original pieces. Each new person to find my work, sparks joy and gratitude. Thank you for joining me here. We'll go wonderful places together. 

As my creativity evolves, it's always fascinating to find where my interests lead. In addition to photography, I fashion one-of-a-kind mixed media artworks inspired by city street scenes around the world—each is stamped with my signature in bubblegum—and I am also working on a line of artistic backgrounds for aquariums and small pet habitats. Coming soon...

My art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.