Laurel Shear

In the vibrant California Bay Area, Laurel Shear seamlessly blends her multifaceted life experiences into her captivating paintings. A former athlete turned energy medicine practitioner and mother, Shear brings a unique perspective to her artistic practice, infusing each canvas with the raw energy of her diverse journey.

Shear's approach to painting is personal and physical, transforming each work into a performance captured in layers of pigment and emotion. Her creative process begins with the act of photographing everyday objects imbued with profound symbolism. These images are then deconstructed and reassembled into collages, serving as the foundation for her paintings. This method allows Shear to explore the intersection of abstraction and representation, weaving together depiction and embedded emotions, trace and form.

The artist's work has garnered significant attention, with her first New York solo show at Fort Gansevoort in 2018 marking a pivotal moment in her career. Shear's paintings have been featured in prominent publications such as Artnet, New York Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, and Luxe Magazine, cementing her status as a rising star in the art world. Beyond her studio practice, Shear continues to nurture creativity in others, facilitating drawing and painting workshops at O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, further enriching the artistic community she calls home.