Laurie Nelson Art

colorful, Joyful, modern, inspirational.
 
 

Bio, Events, Resume

 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY:

My painting career began as a surprise, and it has been surprising me ever since.

I am both a visual artist and a musical artist. This dual track began at Christmastime one year, when I was caught up in a frenzy of crafting, determined to create elaborate window valances covered with stars, loops, chains and tassels, all made from paper, glue and glitter, a la Martha Stewart.  I stayed up until 4:00 in the morning several nights in a row in order to complete this "all important" project. They did look pretty!

When my late, first husband, Steve, surprised me with a beautiful professional easel, canvases, and a set of fine Grumbacher oil paints as a gift that year, it was definitely in self-defense. He declared firmly that I needed another outlet beyond my music, and this could be it.  Two years later, Steve passed away suddenly, but painting remains his legacy to me.  I am profoundly grateful.

As a result of my career in both opera and visual art, our home became a gallery to our local arts community and remains so to this day. My paintings most often sell directly from our studio walls. Because of this symbiosis, in the early years, a list of "Nelson" collectors had developed well before I had begun to participate in public exhibits.
  
My first exhibition experiences were performance art credits at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC, and I moved from there to regional, national and solo exhibits. In contrast, to the strictly traditional path of my singing career, my development as a visual artist has been organic. A variety of interests guides my exploration, and perhaps it is not surprising that often, my artistic voice is linked to the expression of melody and lyrics. The resulting work is rooted in vocal music, nature, and images evoked by dramatic concepts. 

For more on my current projects, please visit my statement page. 

I hope you will join me for conversations on life and art of all kinds, at: www.instagram.com/LaurieNelson_Art






RESUME:

HONORS

Honorable Mention
Exhibit: "The Figure" 
Five pieces selected to the nationally juried virtual exhibit at The Artist Table
The Table Exhibit Archive

Honorable Mention
Exhibit:  "Space and Form"

Nationally juried show; Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts

Juror: Jerry Shapiro, Red Door Gallery in Richmond, Virginia



SOLO EXHIBITS


2011

"Song Cycle"

Solo Exhibit at the Gallery at Convergence in Alexandria, VA

Song Cycle explored the notion that sound informs our visual experience and influences our creativity. This idea was presented within the rhythm of our life cycle.


PUBLIC ART

Lebanese Cypres" Mennanite Conference Center Collection, Lancaster PA

"Après Un Rêve"  Dental Offices of Dr. David Bertman in Burke, VA

"Papageno," Collection the Westminster School, Annandale, VA
"Origins,"  Collection the Westminster School, Annandale, VA
"Labyrinth," Collection Westminster School, Annandale, VA

"Medusa," Medical Offices of Dr. Jeff Pan in Falls Church, VA

 



JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2018

"Big Fun Art"
Nationally Juried Exhibition; Smithsonian Affiliate Anne Marie Sculpture Gardens and Art Center; Solomons Island, Maryland
Juror: Jennifer Brundage, National Outreach Manager Smithsonian Affiliations

2016

"Figuratively Speaking" 
Nationally Juried Exhibition; the award winning Gallery Underground, Arlington, Virginia
Artwork was selected to interpret figurative language and figures of speech. 
Juror: John Morrell.


2015 

"Heroes and Villains; Exploring Archetypes Through Art"
Nationally juried exhibition; Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center, Solomons, Maryland
Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, juried by Smithsonian Associates

"The Figure"
Five pieces selected to the nationally juried virtual exhibit at The Artist Table
The Table Exhibit Archive
Award: Honorable Mention, "Chronos"


2014

"Fear"
Nationally juried show at Libertytown Art Center in Fredericksburg, VA
Jurors: Crystal and Kevin Rodrigue

"Space and Form"

Nationally juried show at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts

Award: Honorable Mention, Lucy in the Sky

Juror: Jerry Shapiro, Red Door Gallery in Richmond, Virginia



2013

"Celebrate Color and Form"

Nationally juried show at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts

Juror:Margery Goldberg, founder Zenith Gallery, Washington DC



2011

"Women Interpreting the Female Form"

Regionally juried show at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA

Juror: Raphael Fitzgerald, curator, National Museum of Women in the Arts

 

"Gryphon Gala"

Group Exhibit, Westminster School in Annandale, VA



EXHIBITS BY INVITATION

2016

LALO Exhibits In Alternative Spaces:
"Study In Contrast," LALO Collectors Exhibit




PERFORMANCE ART

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution
"Urban Arias" 

a chamber opera on George Segal’s Sculptures by Guillermo Silveira

soprano voice of female sculpture.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution
"Triunfo de Espiritu"

A dance videopera on Carlos Alfonzo’s paintings and sculptures

(soprano, role of of the spirit)



RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


2016

Album Art for new release, "Cosmic Kitchen;"  Whitney Akridge (solo artist). My portrait of Whitney appears on the booklet for "Cosmic Kitchen, " a new release by Such Good Karma Records, LLC. Available on itunes.

2010 and 2012

Album Art for Accidental Charm; rock band. My work appears on two Accidental Charm albums. "Dream at Your Own Risk" and "With the Crowd." Both albums are available on itunes. 



EDUCATION:


Carnegie Mellon University and the Catholic University of America, Bachelor of Music, Cum Laude

 




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