Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Laurie Shapiro is a visual artist whose work employs a layering technique that combines painting, screen-printing, sewing, and sculpture to create all-encompassing, visually stimulating installations and individual pieces. The environments she creates transports viewers into psychedelic womb-like environments: handcrafted, vibrant, and filled with patterns and colors that invite interaction and meditation. Laurie was born with a condition that causes progressive deafness as she ages, muting her experience of the outer world while her inner world is amplified. These internal emotional experiences manifest as vibrant and captivating visuals, enveloping viewers in a realm of color and wonder. Paintings are particularly expressive, with subjects often using exaggerated gestures to communicate. Laurie primarily understands the world through visual stimuli and internal feelings, and this, in turn, colors all of her work. Central to her artistic practice are screen-printed floral patterns and imagery—drawings of plants that “speak” to her. Heavily informed by her internal and spiritual experiences, Laurie’s work urges viewers – in a time of climate devastation – to listen not through noise but through feeling and intuition.
Laurie has a B.F.A. from Carnegie Melon University.
During her residency Laurie led two workshops. The first was an Introduction to Screen Printing. Using premade designs by the artist, participants had the opportunity to print on both fabric and paper. They also had the option to create their own designs using a cut paper technique. The second was an embroidery workshop where participants were invited to bring their own item, such as a jacket or shirt, to embroider with a design of their choice.
Laurie presented her final exhibition, Meditated Landscapes, during the BOSCO Open Studios Tour. Below is Laurie’s statement on the installation she presented:
“The work showcased in this exhibit represents the culmination of my experiences throughout this unique year. At the beginning of the year, I left LA and embarked on a journey that has spanned the entire year. I returned to New York, my hometown, and traveled to Italy, Mexico, and Finland for various artist residencies. It was only during my long drive from New York to Boise, that I realized the true reason I left California in the first place – a broken heart. However, my intention was not just to heal my heart, but to mend old wounds, confront myself, and understand my choices.
The central (work-in-progress) installation piece in this room, “Transcendence of Pain,” reflects this realization. During my drive to Boise, I attended a meditation retreat and cried for three days. I cried and cried, but sometimes the tears stopped, and I reassured myself that this pain would be insignificant one day as all things pass. This installation piece results from my year-long journey, delving into the feminine divine in Italy, exploring tropical plant life in Mexico, and rediscovering self-love in Finland. As I drove through mountains, I observed how the scenery changed, how distant objects appeared closer, and how everything is in constant flux. Life is constantly changing, and nothing is permanent. So, I invite you to meditate on this moment and immerse yourself in the art with me.”
Gallery
