Born in St. Francisville, Louisiana, Leona Nicholson was a potter, pottery designer and teacher who had a career in New Orleans from 1900 to 1965. From 1896 to 1897, she studied at Newcomb College and then attended Alfred University.

From 1908 to 1929, she worked intermittently at Newcomb College as an art crafts person. She was the first woman of New Orleans to receive the designation of "Master Craftsman", a prestigious award from the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts where she exhibited her work in 1907.

She also had a home studio where she made and decorated pottery, and from 1949 to 1965, she was a teacher of ceramics at the New Orleans Jewish Community Center.

Exhibition venues included the Louisiana Purchase Exp...