Bio
Laurie’s contemporary, process driven painting is largely inspired by the interactions of colour, shape and application. She was born in Toronto and studied fine art at the University of Waterloo. She has been an active member of the art community for over twenty years, regularly participating in shows such as the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and International Art Fairs in London, Seoul, New York, Hamburg and Hong Kong. Laurie’s work is included in private and public collections across North America, Europe and Asia. She works from her studio in Guelph Ontario.
Laurie teaches sessions at the Guelph School of Art, Elora Centre for the Arts, The Hive in Alton Mills and a week long intensive during the summer at the Wellington County Museum. She offers private and semi-private classes in her studio. The focus is on building a visual vocabulary of tools and techniques while further establishing each participant’s unique voice.
I am intrigued by the formal vocabulary of painting; the interaction of shapes, colours and lines, the materiality of paint, and the myriad ways they coalesce. These indexes of forms and applications are the building blocks of my work, and through my career have presented me with near limitless opportunities for exploration. Over time, I have come to regard painting both as an act – a dedicated practice I inhabit – and as a destination; a place that feeds my intellectual curiosity and my artistic spirit. I am endlessly fascinated by the way an idea that is at first intangible, becomes material through the act of making. I am also intrigued by how the creative process (and its dance of trial and error, accident and edit) can offer new directions or different resolutions from previous work. My new pieces are driven by a certain liberation from standard formats and ultimately a trust in the process to suggest a way forward. As a result, shapes and forms once prevalent in my two-dimensional work are taking on a more material, three-dimensional character and presence. They are what I would call painting hybrids, where surface and colour are viewed through a more expansive, sculptural lens.
During the past few years, the development of this body of work of intimately sized wall sculptures has acted as a form of meditation and self-awareness. I found over time that I could lose myself in the creation of each piece, while steadying my mind and emotions in colour play and paint application. I began to experiment with beveled edges in the production of the forms, departing from the relative weightiness of the previous work. I think my process was an attempt to inject a metaphoric lightness into the work, as the application of fluorescent edges made the pieces visually float. This shift in the handling of the edges was a breakthrough for me, in that it created a lively, dynamic dialogue between the work and the wall, between the art and its immediate context. The colourful reflection feels to me like an aura of optimism and resilience.
Curriculum Vitae
Gallery Representation:
The Drey Gallery, Berlin and Toronto
Charline Kervyn Contemporary Art, Ghent Belgium
Spence Gallery, Toronto ON
Solo Shows
Spence Gallery, Toronto ON "Glow", 2022
Renann Isaacs Contemporary Art, Guelph ON, "Reflections", 2021
Feature Artist at Wyndham Art Supplies, Guelph ON, 2020
Elora Centre for the Arts, Elora ON, "Journey Into Process",2019
DeFacto Gallery Solo Show, Hamilton ON, 2018
Select Exhibitions:
2022
Scope Miami
Social Space - Group Show, Hamilton ON
Affordable Art Fair Hamburg Germany
Charline Kervyn Gallery, Ghent Belgium
Two Person Show at The Drey Gallery, Toronto
Seattle Art Fair
Solo Show at Spence Gallery, Toronto
Art Market San Francisco
Square Yard Show at Paul Elia Gallery, Hamilton
Art Gallery of Hamilton Show and Sale
Toronto Artist Project
Busan Annual Art Market, Korea
2021
Scope Miami
Affordable Art Fair Battersea London
Guelph Studio Tour
Affordable Art Fair NYC
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF)
Renann Isaacs Contemporary Art, Guelph ON, "Reflections", (Solo)
OSA 148th Annual Juried Show, Virtual
VAM 43 Juried Show, Art Gallery of Mississauga
2020
Feature Artist at Wyndham Art Supplies Guelph ON
Affordable Art Fair (Online) NYC
Guelph Studio Tour
Renann Isaacs Gallery - Curated Group Show as a companion to the Guelph Studio Tour
Big Ideas Show at Paula White Diamond Gallery, Waterloo ON
Queen West Virtual Art Show
Toronto Outdoor (Online) Art Fair
Guelph Art on the (Virtual) Street
Congruence Summer Online Show
VAM 42nd Annual Juried Show, Art Gallery of Mississauga
Affordable Art Fair NYC
2019
Holiday Open House
"Journey Into Process", Elora Centre for the Arts, (solo)
PAINT - Curated Show at John B Aird Gallery Toronto
Affordable Art Fair London UK
Elora Fergus Studio Tour
Guelph Studio Tour
Three Person Show at Shane Norrie Contemporary, Stratford
Summer 2019, RICA Gallery, Guelph
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Nathan Phillips Square
Unmade - Curated Show at Propeller Gallery Toronto
Insights Juried Show, Wellington Museum
Art in the Street, Guelph
Affordable Art Fair NYC
West Hamilton Artist Tour (WHAT)
Art Gallery of Hamilton Spring Sale
2018
Holiday Open House
Gesture and Geometry, 3 Person Show at Elora Centre for the Arts
SOFA Art Expo, Chicago
Affordable Art Fair London UK
Guelph Studio Tour
Elora Fergus Studio Tour
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
Insights Show, Wellington County Museum
Guelph Art in the Street
Riverdale Art Walk Toronto
Affordable Art Fair London UK
Feature Artist at Jordan Gallery
West Hamilton Artist Tour
Open Studio, Elora Centre for the Arts
Affordable Art Fair NYC
DeFacto Gallery Solo Show, Hamilton ON
2017
Annual Holiday Open Studio, Guelph ON
Affordable Art Fair Singapore
Affordable Art Fair London UK
Guelph Studio Tour, Guelph ON
PEC Studio Tour, Prince Edward County ON
Affordable Art Fair NYC
Solo Show at Redbrick Cafe in Guelph ON
Art in the Yard, Elora ON
Art on the Street, Guelph ON
Insights 2017 Wellington County Museum and Archives
Riverdale Art Walk Toronto
Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead UK
West Hamilton Artists Tour (WHAT)
"Seeking" Two person show with Mary Karavos at Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre
"Four Walls Four Artists" Elora Centre for the Arts
2016
Holiday Open Studio Sale, Guelph ON
Hear Here, Toronto's Premier Salon
Square Foot Show, Julia Veenstra Gallery, Hamilton ON
Paula White Diamond Gallery Group Show, Waterloo ON
Group Show at Crescent Hill Gallery
Affordable Art Fair UK
Guelph Studio Tour
Affordable Art Fair NYC
PEC Studio Tour
Affordable Art Fair Seoul Korea
Impact 2016, Nielson Park Creative Centre
Art in the Street, Guelph ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Affordable Art Fair Hamstead UK
Two Person Show at PWD Gallery Waterloo ON
Riverdale Art Walk Toronto
Art Busan Korea w/ Spence gallery
Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
West Hamilton Artists Tour
"Exhibit Eh" The Painting Center NYC
Art Gallery of Hamilton Spring Show and Sale
Art Wynwood Miami
2015
Paula White Diamond Gallery Group Show, Waterloo ON
Art San Diego with Spence Gallery
Capacitance, Guelph ON
Affordable Art Fair London UK
.Guelph Studio Tour
Hear Here, Toronto ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Cabbagetown Art Fair, Toronto ON
Affordable Art Fair, NYC
Arts on Queen, Feature ArtistGuelph Art on the Street
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto ON
Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
WHAT Hamilton Studio Tour
Toronto Artist Project
Twist Gallery Abstract Group Show, Toronto ON
2014
Paula White Diamond Gallery Group Show, Waterloo ON
MJG Gallery Group Show, Toronto
Guelph Studio Tour
Cabbagetown Art Festival, Toronto ON
Guelph Art on the Street
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Rittenhouse Fine Art Show Philadelphia PA
WHAT West Hamilton Artist Tour
Open Studio Show and Sale Guelph
Toronto Art Expo
Toronto Artists Project
2013
Art Gallery of Hamilton Show and Sale
Outside the Lines Group Show, Hamilton ON
Open Studio Show, Guelph ON
Art in the Street, Guelph ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
The New Art Festival, Ottawa ON
Solo show at Red Brick Cafe, Guelph ON
RAW Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto ON
West Hamilton Artist Tour, Hamilton ON
Speakeasy Spring Art Fair, Toronto ON
Art Gallery of Hamilton Spring Sale
Toronto Artists Project
2012
One of a Kind Holiday Show Toronto
Alone Together, Group Show at Artscape Triangle Lofts Gallery, Toronto ON
Mary Allen Studio Tour, Waterloo ON
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Barnes Art Market Toronto ON
SpeakEasy Fine Art Show at the Gladstone
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto ON
“Flux” at the Gladstone, Toronto ON
Propeller Gallery, “Stolen Moments” with Colourshift Collective
The Artists Project, Toronto ON
Solo Show at Albion Hotel, Guelph ON
2011
Toronto One of a Kind Show
Feature artist at Arts on King, Toronto ON
Up Art at the Gladstone, Toronto ON
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto ON
“Bright Lights Big City” at the Gladstone Hotel with Colourshift Collective
Oakville Art in the Park
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition “TOAE”
RAW Riverdale Art Walk Toronto ON
Speakeasy at the Gladstone, Toronto ON
W.H.A.T Hamilton Studio Tour
The Artist Project Toronto ON
Colourshift Collective Group Show
“New Growth” Gallery 1313 Toronto ON
Colourshift Collective Group Show
“Abstraction”
Ben Navaee Gallery, Toronto ON
2010
One of a Kind Show, Toronto ON
Ebar solo show, Guelph ON (Sept - Jan 2/11)
Art Gallery of Hamilton Fall Show, Hamilton ON
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto ON
Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Toronto ON
Sunnyside Beach Show, Toronto ON
Salon des Refuses, Toronto ON
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto ON
WHAT West Hamilton Artist Tour, Hamilton ON
The Artist Project Toronto ON
2009
Art Gallery of Hamilton Show and Sale, Hamilton ON
Art Off the Lot, Toronto ON
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto ON
Cabbage Town Art Festival, Toronto ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto ON
Riverdale Art Walk Toronto ON
2008
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto ON
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto ON
Stitch ‘n Kitsch Spring Show & Sale, Waterloo ON
Five Lights Gallery, Guelph ON
Hanna’s Bella Bistro, Waterloo ON
2007
Stitch ‘n Kitsch Christmas Show & Sale, Waterloo, ON
Artworks Show & Sale, Kitchener, ON
Stitch ‘n Kitsch Show & Sale, Waterloo, ON
Hanna’s Bella Bistro, Waterloo, ON
Artworks Spring Show & Sale, Kitchener, ON
Other
Brighton Yards Studio Tour, 2006 Waterloo, ON
ASAP (Available Space Art Project) Kitchener Tourist Info Centre, 2006
Princess Twin Cinema, 2005 Waterloo, ON
ECH Front Gallery, U of W Third Year Painting Show, Waterloo, ON
ECH Front Gallery, U of W Group Show, 1999, Waterloo, ON
Corporate Collections
The Art Gallery of Guelph
The Aimia Collection
Awards and Residencies:
2022 - Curated Top 10 List for Affordable Art Fair Hamburg by Hannah Weber-Heidenfels
2021 - Honourable Mention, Art Matters 4 - Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne Germany
2021 - Vermont Studio Centre Residency
2021 - Curated Collection by Micah Lexier. Either Alone Or In Some Combination, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Online Exhibiton
2021 - Curated Collection by Danielle Krysa. A Perfect Mix, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Online Exhibiton
2020 - Curated Collection by Oluseye. Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Online Exhibiton
2020 - Honourable Mention, Art Matters 3 - Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne Germany
2018-2019 - EloraCentre for the Arts - Artist in Residence
2018 - Best in Show, Art in the Street Guelph
2017 - Honourable Mention, Art in the Street Guelph
2014 - Honourable Mention, Cabbagetown Art Festival, Toronto
2013 - Best in Show at Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto
1996-2000 - Dean's Honour List, U of W
1999 - Barbara Edwards Fine Art Memorial Award, U of W
Artist Talks
Art Gallery of Burlington 2017
Education:
University of Waterloo, Honours Fine Art ~ Studio Specialization 1996-2000