02/18/2026
🎨 Leilani Mendenhall’s first-ever solo exhibition reception
🗓️ This Sunday from 2–4 PM
📍 Melrose Coffee & Boba
In kindergarten, Leilani Mendenhall discovered she loved making art. When she was 6, her aunt gifted her a set of oil paints, and she completed her very first canvas.
It would be another 40 years before she created her second oil painting. In between, she studied languages (she speaks French, which inspired the title “Oiseaux”), worked diverse careers, raised a family, and continued creating – painting theatrical sets, children’s murals, greeting cards – while dreaming of “one day being an artist.”
This exhibition marks the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“Oiseaux” (French for “birds”) features her oil paintings of North Carolina’s wild birds: creatures she has observed for years through backyard birdwatching and kayaking. Through painting, she captures the awe, calm, and wonder that photography never quite could for her.
We’re honored to host her first reception and celebrate this milestone. Join us Sunday to meet Leilani and experience the joy behind the work!
(Leilani's gallery is open to the public Mon-Sat 8-4, and Sundays 11-4.)