Leisa Collins, a native of New Zealand, has carved a unique niche for herself as an acclaimed architectural artist, and her journey has been anything but conventional. Passionate about architecture and travel, she rejected the confines of formal art training and instead honed her craft by exploration, practice and learning about her architectural subjects first-hand. Trips to Europe and other ancient corners of the world cemented her fascination with the historic roots of building styles and how they evolved into the modern era.

Eventually settling in the United States, she became interested in the people and cultures that defined architecture throughout the history of this country. She made it her mission to drive from coast to coast, creating original paintings of homes that inspired her in every state. Due to her fine eye toward detail and her deep respect and curiosity about the stories behind each home, Collins’ commissioned house portraits were soon in high demand. In 2013, she established the Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award to honor exceptional individuals committed to saving and restoring old buildings across the country. Collins’ work has been seen in many publications such as The New York Times, Huffington Post and Los Angeles Times.

Nomads at heart, Collins and her husband Bruce enjoy experiencing the cultural and architectural diversity of new cities and have lived in all regions of the USA. They currently reside in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are always on the lookout for their next adventure.