Morris Walton Leader was born in Marshall, Texas in 1877. He died in Austin, Texas where he had lived since a young boy. He studied with San Antonio Artists Harry Anthony DeYoung, P.L. Hohnstedt as well as many other listed Texas Artists. He specialized in Texas Landscapes mostly near Austin. He did many creek scenes especially in the Austin Area. His paintings were exhibited at the Witte Museum in the early 1930s. He also exhibited his works in the Texas Artists Circuit Exhibition as well as many other venues.
During 1913-1917, Leader engaged in independent study in New York City and attended the Art Institute of Chicago. He died in Austin and was buried in the city.
Exhibitions: San Antonio Local Artist annual Exhibition (1932); Guild of Austin Artists (1932); Annual Texas Artists Circuit Exhibition (1934 prize, 1944); Exhibition of Paintings by Texas Artists, J. W. Young Galleries, Chicago (1940); Society of Texas Artists, Corpus Christi (1941); Corpus Christi Caller-Times Annual Exhibition (1944,1946); Texas Fine Arts Association Exhibition (1946, 1954 awards); Painters of Texas 1900-1950, Museum of Abilene (1989); Survey of Texas Artist 1890-1990, Longview Museum and Arts Center (1991), Hock Shop Collection: Rediscovering Texas Artist of the Past, Museum of the Big Bend, Alpine (1997).
Collections: Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Austin public schools; Texas Memorial Museum, University of Texas at Austin; Art Club, McKinney