Penn Yan pewtersmith Leon Fontier recently received the Nettie Hart Award for Crafts at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago.
Fontier was born in the Congo, educated in Belgium, then he moved to Central New York where he has been living since 1972. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Yale University Art Gallery, the White House collection, and many private collections.
Presented in honor of Nettie Hart, a key supporter in the early days of the 57th Street Art Fair, the award is presented annually to one outstanding artist selected from the categories of Jewelry Making, Fiber, Glass, Leather, Mixed Media or Paper.
The 57th Street Art Fair is the oldest juried art fair in the midwest.
