Leslie Schenkel

Born in San Francisco, California, a series of moves found Leslie graduating high school in Iowa, marrying a Marine with a short stint in North Carolina, and then back to Iowa City. From there it was on to Peoria. Peoria has been home since 1990.

The lampworking journey began in 2003. Through the years, Leslie has taken several lampworking and jewelry making classes and continues to network with other artists to improve her skills. The studio contains a duel-fuel (propane and oxygen) torch, small annealing kiln, many tools collected through the years, and a wide variety of glass. An example of a new direction is The Three Voices, which was chosen to be featured on a Sky Art billboard in 2025.

While always stating that she just wants to melt glass – Leslie is exploring what other art she can create with glass and all the other shiny items found in the studio with her business, The Twisted Chicken. Several jewelry artists have purchased her beads to incorporate in their original work.

Leslie has participated in Peoria Riverfront Market, Knox County Scenic Drive and Christmas Show at Walnut Grove Farm, Richwoods High School Craft Show, Illinois Art League Show, Luthy Botanical Show, 2013 Riverssance Festival of Fine Art in the Quad Cities, and Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair in 2017. In 2006, she received a juror’s choice award at the Galesburg Art in the Park. Leslie was a member of the Illinois Artisans Program, displaying her work in the Museum Store in Springfield, Illinois and participating in a show in the Randolph Building in Chicago. In 2014, photos of her beads were included in 1000 Beads by Kistina Logan, Lark Crafts publisher. Her work has also been featured in Peoria Magazine.