About Lauren Curtis

Lauren Curtis was graduated with a BFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ), in 1988.   She has remained in the New Brunswick/Franklin Park, NJ area ever since and has been creating as a full-time artist.  She enjoys working in a variety of media, including oils, collage, pen & ink, watercolor and photography.   The artist is happiest when creating pieces that represent her love of nature,  wildlife, travel and spiritual subject matter.  The symbolism and mythology of ancient cultures are fused with the symbols from modern-day, natural spiritual practices, to form a unique and eclectic style.  These images are often portrayed through the woman’s perspective,  showing the importance of “The Feminine” , which is sometimes over-looked.   Travel is another major influence in Lauren’s work and the pieces, usually photographs, created from these journeys helps the artist to convey the beauty found in diversity, as well as in the similarities, that run through various cultural belief-systems.    As someone who believes in Earth-centered spirituality and the importance of mythology, Lauren has & continues to study the myths of various ancient and modern cultures and religions, which ties together her love of travel, nature and symbolism.  This is evident in her photography and digital mixed media work, which includes her current series, “X-RAYted”, which began in 2010 & continues today.    In this body of work, Lauren incorporates photos she has taken of human and animal x-rays, which are combined with other original photos, ss well as various collaged elements. 

Another series, “Mystics & Mourners”, which is composed of oil paintings and watercolor with collage pieces,  also portrays our connection to nature and touches on our mortality as well.   These works represent the more Gothic style of the artist’s work as well as more examples of how spirituality play an important roll in Lauren’s pieces. 

Lauren has had artwork and poetry published by greeting card and crafter companies,  magazines, children’s books and historical organizations, including the Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission (New Jersey)   One of her pieces was selected for the permanent collection of the Joyce Kilmer Library in central NJ.   Her work has been displayed in private collections, healthcare centers and galleries and was selected for a solo exhibit at Johnson &Johnson World Headquarters, July-August, 2009. She was a featured artist on the Science Channel‘s TV show Oddities (2011-2012), was also featured on Germany’s TAFF TV (2015), several New Jersey/New York City cable /YouTube TV shows and has done radio interviews as well.   Lauren has participated in over 150 solo,  group & juried exhibitions throughout the US,  won multiple awards and is a member of NJ Arts organizations.  Her artwork has been sold throughout the US and abroad and she exhibits her work monthly in gallery shows,  art fests and cultural events.   

About 10 years ago,  Lauren ventured into becoming an art teacher, giving private one on one or small group lessons to beginners and intermediates of all ages.  She then expanded to becoming a marketing coach for a wide variety of creatives who want to expand their own artistic careers.  This has been very rewarding and she continues to expand her classes and student base.  Being that she can teach both in person and virtually, she has students both locally in Central NJ as well as several other states and has had students as far away as Greece!  Lauren finds this work very rewarding as well as a great way to supplement her income in between commissions and freelance illustration work, which includes children’s book and other publication illustration, book cover design, logo and marketing material design and more. 

 


 

New Brunswick Art Salon 2023 – Watercolor & Mixed Media: “See the Forest for the Trees”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2023 – Photography: “Refracted: Shade and Light”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2022 – Photography: “Interchangeable Lens: Frame of Mind”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2021 – Oil and Mixed Media: “Bonds Beyond Time”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2019 – Watercolor & Mixed Media: “Ephemeral Visions”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2018 – All Media: “Visceral and Visionary”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2014 – Photography: “New Brunswick in The Eyes of  Photographers”

New Brunswick Art Salon 2013 – Mixed Media: “Infinite Layers Part II”

 

Artist Personal Website: www.LaurenCurtisArt.com & https://laurencurtisart.weebly.com

Email: forestwalker333@hotmail.com


Artist Statement

Art, spirituality and culture are all intertwined. Through my work, I express my beliefs, which have strong roots in the power of the Feminine and Nature, and draw from various mythological and symbolic systems of both ancient and modern cultures. Using artwork& photography, often inspired from my travels within the US & Europe, I tell my personal stories of the world as I experience it, and of myself as an individual in that world.

I have a great respect for what makes people different, as well as what makes us similar. Earth-centered religions, from which I draw much inspiration, believe that everything and everyone are connected and contain their own beauty. Art is a perfect medium to portray these ideas. We are all an integral part of nature, in both a macro-& micro-cosmic sense, and the similarities found throughout different countries and cultures seem to prove this. These relationships are an important focus for my work.

When creating art I enjoy using diverse materials, and for each piece, I select the media that best exemplifies the symbols & subjects I’ve chosen to work with. Whether it’s through painting, collage or photography, each image then becomes it’s own personal myth-story.


Education 

”SmART Business Coaching” art & fine art-business courses, 2003-2006, NYC, NY, USA  

Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, BFA, 1984-1988 New Brunswick, NJ, USA 

Majored in Painting and Drawing.   Photography & Graphic Design courses. 

Parsons School of Design,1984, NYC, NY, USA. Received certificate for honors design course.  

DuCret School of the Arts, 1983, Plainfield, NJ, USA.  Drawing and Color Theory courses. 

Exhibitions

 Individual Exhibitions & Two Artist Shows

Artist of the Month, July 2020, Gallery On Main, Somerville, NJ, USA 

Artist of the Month, Oct. 2018, Inspire Art Gallery, Dunellen, NJ, USA  

Solo Photography Exhibition, 2015-2016, OQ Gallery, Highland Park, NJ, USA  

Two Artist Exhibit, 2015, Mayor’s Office, City Hall Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Solo Show, Photos & Digital Photo Collage, 2014, Ruthie‘s Cafe, Highland Park, NJ, USA  

Solo Show, X-RAYted CurioCities Photo Collages, 2013, Caladan Gallery, International Online Exhibit  

Solo Photography Show, Journeys, 2011, Gourgaud Gallery, Cranbury, NJ, USA  

Two Artist Exhibit, Journeys, 2011, Gallery @ the Rotunda, Metuchen, NJ, USA  

Solo Show, Passing On: Autumn Requiem, 2010-2011, Schwenkfelder Museum, Pennsburg, PA, USA  

Solo Photography Exhibit, Journeys in B&W, 2010, Haven, Highland Park, NJ, USA  

Solo & 2 Artist Photo & Mixed Media Exhibits, 2009-2013, Artisanal Gallery, Somerville, NJ, USA  

Solo Photography & Painting Exhibit, Structures & Silhouettes, 2009, Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Awarded several solo shows, Caladan Gallery,  2006-2011, Online & Cambridge, MA, USA  

Artist-of-the-Month Solo Exhibits, 2006 & 2007, No. Brunswick Municipal Gallery, No. Bruns., NJ, USA  

Featured Artist (paintings) at the 15th Annual Women’s Festival, 2005, Morristown, NJ, USA  

Solo Painting Show, Goddess Art, 2005, Art Academy & Gallery of Highland Park,  NJ, USA  

Solo Mixed Media & Painting Show, 2004, Historic Library of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Solo Art Exhibit, 2001, Highland Park Public Library , Highland Park, NJ,  USA  

Solo Mixed Media  Art Show, Good Friday the 13th, 2001, Zabba Zu Gallery, Bound Brook, NJ, USA  

Solo Mixed Media Shows, Venus Productions, 1998-1999, CBGB’s Downstairs Gallery, NYC, NY, USA  

Selected Group Exhibitions

Kindness, Group Exhibit, 2022, Nails In The Wall Gallery, Metuchen, NJ, USA 

Portraits, Group Exhibit, 2022, Galerie Westerhoff, Metuchen, NJ, USA 

WORD & Small Works, Group Exhibits, 2022, Atelier Rosal Gallery, Rahway, NJ, USA 

Interchangeable Lens: Frame of Mind, Photography Exhibition, 2022, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ  USA 

Virtual Art Exhibits, 2021-2022, Westerhoff Gallery & Barron Arts Center (NJ), Personaland (CT), VAAC (So.Dakota) 

Packard Group National Exhibition, Group Exhibit, 2021, No. 7 Arts Center & virtual show, So. Dakota, USA 

Windows of Understanding, Public Art Exhibit, 2021, Metuchen Library Gallery, Metuchen, NJ, USA 

Hope, Doors, & Old School, Group Shows, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2014, Transformations Gallery, Metuchen, NJ USA Culture Crawl Town-wide Art Event, 2019, Town Hall & Barron Arts Center, Woodbridge, NJ, USA  

Reflections, Phenomenal Women, Group Exhibits, 2019, 2020, Above Art Studios, New Bruns.,NJ, USA Ephemeral Visions and Sightings, Group Exhibits, 2019, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA woodBRIDGE to Art, Group Exhibit, 2018-2019, Woodbridge Public Library, Woodbridge, NJ, USA  

Monthly Exhibits, 2018-2019, Inspire Art Gallery, Dunellen, NJ, USA  

Holiday Show, Samhain, Tattooed, Group Exhibits, 2018-2020, Atelier Rosal Gallery, Rahway, NJ, USA  

Art for a Wintry Season, 2018, 4 artist exhibit, Millstone River Gallery,  Plainsboro, NJ, USA  

Raritan River; Our Landscape, Our Legacy, Photo Show, 2017, Johnson &Johnson World Headquarters Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Spring Blooms, Group Exhibit, 2017, South Avenue Arts Gallery, Garwood, NJ, USA  

FINALE, Light, Grass is Greener, Everyday; People & Things, Group Exhibits, 2017-2018, Gallery U, Westfield, NJ, USA  

Fall Show & Winter Photo Exhibits, 2019-2020; Visceral & Visionary, 2018, L’Appel  Du Vide Art Salon, 2016, Group Shows, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Rooted, Group Show, 2016, Tulpehaking Nature Center Gallery, Hamilton, NJ, USA  

Ebu Art Exhibit, Group Show, 2016, Straube Center , Pennington, NJ, USA  

NOYES Museum Fine Arts Annual, Juried Group Exhibit, 2016, Noyes Museum, Atlantic City, NJ, USA  

Iconic, Community, & Photography, Group Exhibits, 2016-2017, WAG Gallery, Woodbridge, NJ, USA  

Naked In New Hope, Group Exhibit, 2015, Sidetracks Gallery, New Hope, PA, USA  

Nature Soothes…, Group Photo Show, 2015, D&R Greenway Land Trust Gallery, Princeton, NJ, USA  

Courage, Fragile Earth, Animals, Beautiful & Powerful, Revelation/Revolution, Elements, & Sacred Spaces, Group Shows, 2015-2020, Nails in the Wall Gallery, Metuchen, NJ, USA        

NJ Isn’t Boring!, Group Exhibition, 2015, Arts Guild New Jersey Gallery, Rahway, NJ, USA  

Trees & Plants, Nature’s Beauty & Drastic Skies, Group Exhibits, 2015 – 2018, Gourgaud Gallery, Cranbury, NJ, USA    

Spirit of the Human Family, Group Exhibit, 2015, Linda Grandis Blatt Gallery, Morristown, NJ, USA  

Art & Science 2014 International Photo Contest, Group Exhibit, AI.I.Cuza University, Iasi, Romania  

Invitational & Juried Exhibits, 2014-present, So. Brunswick Municipal Gallery, Monmouth Jct., NJ, USA  

Palette, Group Exhibition, 2014, Gallery U, Westfield, NJ, USA  

Friends & Neighbors, 2014, Pierro Gallery, So. Orange, NJ, USA  

In Bloom, Invitational Group Exhibition, 2014, Barron Arts Center, Woodbridge, NJ, USA  

Strong Women, Group Exhibit, 2014, Ahavas Shalom Gallery, Newark, NJ, USA   

Winter Photography Salon, Juried Show, 2014, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Holiday Group Exhibit, 2013, Art on A Gallery, NYC, NY, USA  

Dia de los Muertos, 2013, LITM Gallery, Jersey City, NJ, USA  

Mandalas and Immigration, 2013-2014, 2 Group Shows, Nails in the Wall Gallery, Metuchen, NJ, USA  

Infinite Layers, Group Show, 2013, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

RAYS traveling group exhibit, 2013, various venues/galleries in Somerset & Morris Counties, NJ, USA  

Small Works, 3 Artist Show, 2013, McCall Gallery, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, USA  

Rites of Spring, Juried Show, 2013, Gallery @ 14 Maple, Morris Arts Council, Morristown, NJ, USA Fantastic Tales, Juried Show, 2013, So. Brunswick Municipal Gallery (artwork selected for promo         materials),  Monmouth Jct., NJ, USA  

Fall Art Exhibit, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, UMDNJ Newark Medical School Gallery, Newark, NJ, USA   

Strange Glue, Collage Art Online & Catalog Exhibit, 2012-2013, Thompson Gallery, Weston, MA, USA  

Monthly Group Shows,  March 2012 through present, Gallery U, Red Bank & Westfield, NJ, USA  

Corpus Illuminata II, Group Show, 2012, Tangent Gallery, Detroit, Michigan, USA  

3rd Annual Facebook Friends Show, 2012, ArtPrideNJ, Lyceum Hall Cntr. for  Arts, Burlington, NJ, USA  

In the Good Old Summertime, Invitational Show, 2012, Barron Arts Center, Woodbridge, NJ, USA  

Green Acres: It’s All Yours!, 2011-2012, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protect. Hdqtrs., Trenton, NJ, USA  

200 Below, Group Show, 2011-2012, Brook Arts Center, Bound Brook, NJ, USA  

New Brunswick Unique, Juried Show, 2011, The Heldrich Corporate Hotel, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

HPAC Exhibits, 2011, Municipal Gallery & Brook Art Center, Piscataway & Bound Brook, NJ, USA  

Freeze, Juried Group Exhibit, 2011, Arthouse Production Gallery, Jersey City, NJ, USA See All the People, Juried Show, 2011, So. Brunswick Municipal Gallery (artwork selected for postcards),  Monmouth Jct., NJ, USA  

Art Auction for the Gulf of Mexico, Group Art Auction, 2010, Brigham Galleries, Louisiana, USA  

Enlightenment Through Experience, Group Exhibits, 2010, Art Salon, Santa Fe, NM, USA  

Get Your Freak On!, Group Show, 2010, Space 242 Gallery, Boston, MA, USA  

Winter Exhibit, Group Show, 2010, Straube Center Galleries, Pennington, NJ, USA       

Faces Group Exhibit, 2009-2010, MH Art Gallery, (artwork selected for postcards) NYC, NY, USA  

NJ Group Exhibit, 2009-2010, NJN TV/Radio Station Headquarters Gallery, Trenton, NJ, USA  

Female Expressions Group Show, 2009, Newark Arts Council Gallery, Newark, NJ, USA  

West Windsor Arts Council Juried (by Michael Graves) Show, 2009, Princeton, NJ, USA  

Mysterious & Real, featured artist in group show, 2009, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Human History Juried Exhibit, 2008, The Brennan Gallery, Hudson Co. Cultural & Heritage Affairs Statewide Arts Annual, Jersey City, NJ, USA  

Beauty of Earth Group Photo Show, 2008, Schwenkfelder Museum, Pennsburg, PA, USA  

Landscapes of the Coastal Plains Juried Exhibit, 2008, Adkins Arboretum Gallery, MD, USA  

Between Heaven & Earth Juried Exhibit, 2008, College of NJ Gallery, Ewing, NJ, USA  

Bridging Heaven & Earth, 2007-Present, traveling TV & gallery exhibits, Santa Barbara, CA, USA  

Invitational Small Works Annual Exhibit, 2007, New Arts Program, Kutztown, PA, USA  

Gail Whitter Mail-Art International Group Exhibits, 2006-2010, Trail Art Center, BC, Canada  

Seekers & Visions and 100 Under 100 Juried Exhibits, 2006-2008, Gallery 181, Lawrence, MA, USA   

REAL Hot 100 Women Group Exhibit, 2006, KFMK Gallery, Chelsea, NYC, NY, USA  

Arts in the Park, Juried Art Fests, 2005- 2012, (Hon. Mention in Photography), Highland Park, NJ, USA  

Dios De Los Muertos Juried Exhibit, 2005, Maude Kerns Art Center, Eugene, OR, USA  

Peace Works Juried Exhibit, 2004, Times Square Lobby Gallery, NYC, NY, USA  

Pipe Dreams Traveling Exhibit, 2003, The Cork Gallery at Lincoln Center, NYC, NY, USA  

Symbology Juried Exhibit, 2002, Times Square Lobby Gallery, NYC, NY, USA  

Nudes Group Exhibit, 2002, Asbury Art Center, Asbury Park, NJ, USA  

Johnny Has 3 Arms Three Artist Exhibit, 2002, The Fringe Gallery, Newark, NJ, USA  

Zeek Magazine Artist Exhibit, 2005, Makor Gallery, NYC, NY, USA  

4 Artist Exhibit, 2005, Through the Moongate Gallery, Highland Park, NJ, USA   

Women’s Juried Group Exhibit, 2004, Solaris Gallery, Califon, NJ, USA  

Halloween, Four Artist Exhibit, 2001, Dusks Gallery, Jersey City, NJ, USA  

Impressions of  Winter Juried Exhibit, 2000, Art Alliance Gallery, Red Bank, NJ, USA  

All My Children Juried Exhibit, 1999, Art Alliance Gallery, Red Bank, NJ, USA  

Thesis Exhibit, 1988, Mason Gross School of the Arts (Rutgers), New Brunswick, NJ, USA  


Awards & Recognitions

Artistic Achievement Award from Alfa Art Gallery, August, 2022, New Brunswick, NJ. 

Hon. Mention, Story Monster LLC’s Purple Dragonfly Award, Children’s Book Illustration, July, 2019  

2nd Place Award, Photography Competition, New Brunswick Public library & Alfa Art Gallery,  June, 2017, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Excellence in Photography, Public Library Contest, Nov., 2015, New Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Art repros & art info on display at Lundbeck Research Corp. Gallery, March, 2014, Paramus, NJ, USA Artist of the Month, ArtPrideNJ  Website, February, 2013, NJ, USA & Online.  

Honorable Mention Cash Award, East Brunswick Juried Art Fest, June, 2012, East Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Hon. Mention, Green Acres: It’s All Yours! NJDEP photo contest, Dec. 2011-Jan. 2012,Trenton,NJ,USA   

1st Prize Photography Award, 9th Annual East Brunswick Juried Art Fest, June, 2011, E. Bruns., NJ, USA  

Photo won Benjamin Franklin Award, 5th Annual Juried Art Fest, Franklin Township, NJ, USA     

Photo in month-long exhibit, Franklin Twnp. Library, July-Aug. 2010, Somerset, NJ, USA  

1st Prize Winner, 26th Annual Ray Bradbury Art Contest, Waukegan Public Library & Website,  April, 2010, Waukegan, IL, USA    

Historical painting selected for permanent collection, Joyce Kilmer Library, August, 2007    Edison, NJ, USA  

Judge’s Honorable Mention Award, 2nd Annual Juried Exhibit.July,2007, Franklin Township NJ, USA,  Selected as Artist-of-the-Month, Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Community Services; awarded solo exhibits,  April, 2006 & March, 2007, North Brunswick, NJ, USA  

Finalist in the Art.com Fall 2006 Call for Art Competition, October, 2006. Online internationally.  

Honorable Mention in Photography, Positive Focus, “The Experimentals photo competition, Dec. 2005,  NYC, NY, USA  

Winner of The  Pauper art group’s national online artist’s design competition, November, 2005. Honorable Mention in Photography, Juried Arts Fest,  Sept., 2005, Highland Park, NJ, USA Artwork received 2nd Place Award in Morbid Outlook Magazine art contest, 2004, NYC, NY USA Artwork featured on several on-line galleries; awarded solo exhibits, 2001-present.  

Certificate from honors graphic design course, Parsons School of Design, 1984 NYC, NY, USA 


Artist Interview

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