Leigh Cortez is both an Army veteran and spouse of an active-duty combat soldier. She served on active duty with the 10th Mountain Division from 2001 to 2004. After leaving the military she pursued a tattoo apprenticeship and has tattooed professionally in addition to building a fine art career. As a multidisciplinary artist and married to an active-duty soldier, she has lived and worked in various military towns in the United States as well as overseas. The experiences of military life and tattooing in military towns influenced the medium and message of her painted works. Cortez’s work has recently been featured at Dulles International Airport and at the Military Women’s Memorial, formal entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

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R. Cortez is a Chief Warrant Officer 3 serving on active duty in the US Army. His writing has been featured in Riverblood Magazine and exhibited in Dulles International Airport and at the Military Women’s Memorial, formal entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. His spoken word performances include the Summer with the Arts Exhibition at the Military Women’s Memorial. A copy of his spoken word for this exhibition can be found in the image gallery below.