My work is material and process oriented. On the backside of the first layer, I start with a drawing, I build on it with paint, then begin hand cutting with an xacto knife. I continue the process with each layer, applying paint to reflect off the back of the paper illuminating the shadows with color. Once complete I flip each layer and space with foam board. My work is driven by wonder and experimentation. I have to have faith in the process. I take many risks and devote a lot of time to each piece. Pushing and pulling layers and always trying new approaches to get different results. Each day in the studio is an experience and I build on those like I build up my layers, taking the knowledge from that last piece and determining which direction to go next. I take inspiration from nature and architecture. I use repetitive patterns and architectural details, such as building cornices and tile floors and translate them into paper. By using the intrinsic qualities of the materials I transform how paper and paint are perceived by the viewer.
Laura Alexander received a MFA in Fibers from the University of Washington and a BFA in General Fine Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has shown her work nationally in venues such as the Henry Art Gallery, Grand Rapids Museum of Art, Columbus Museum of Art, and The Pizzuti Collection. She has been awarded grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Ohio Arts Council. She also traveled to Dresden, Germany for the GCAC International Exchange Program and Havana, Cuba for the Artaway Artist Exchange. She is represented by Hammond Harkins Galleries (Columbus, Ohio) and She Wolf Gallery (Austin, TX).