A Documentary Film about Dr. Leslie King Hammond

The documentary film 'A Life in Art: Through the Eye of Dr. Leslie King Hammond' is a portrait of a renowned art historian, teacher, curator, and artist.

The film explores Leslie's relationships with a wide variety of artists, highlighting under-represented communities in the visual art world in Maryland, New York, and beyond. The film also tells her life story from the early years growing up in New York City to the challenges she overcame studying to receive her PHD from Johns Hopkins University in the early 1970's as a member of one of the first classes of African American students to attend. We see firsthand Leslie mentoring incredible artists including Amy Sherald, as she is finishes her portrait of Michelle Obama for the National Gallery in DC, and Joyce J. Scott as she creates a necklace for Leslie to wear as she accepts entry to the Baltimore Sun 2023 Business and Civic Hall of Fame honoree event. The film chronicles how Leslie's passion for art is driven by personal and collective struggles.

The project carries a message of inspiration; that we can open the door beyond limitations and make visual artists and the work of all makers, more accessible to all communities.

The film is directed by myself, Ben Baker-Lee, and Rassaan Hammond, who is Leslie’s son. We have had the honor of incredible access to filming Leslie and her world since 2018. We plan to use the funds raised here to complete the production phase and post-production costs including, editing, color grade, music, sound mix, animation and motion graphics.

We plan to finish and hold initial screenings of the film at MICA and the Creative Alliance, before moving into festivals and wider distribution.

We are tremendously grateful for your financial support that enables us complete this film and tell Leslie's inspiring story.