Artist Of The Week - Laurie Lipton
Family Reunion

This week we take a look at some creepy work from the artist, Laurie Lipton. Her drawings are a little bit disturbing, a little bit puzzling, but they’re sure to make you think and feel! And what is art if it doesn’t stir up a reaction? Nothing, I tell ya! Her pieces deal with death in a dark humoured sort of way - which isn’t too surprising coming from a Scorpion!

Laurie grew up in New York, and has travelled around the globe, living in Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, and now London. She was brought up in an atheist household, but to the dismay of her parents, has always been searching for God. She’s read the Bible, the Koran, the Gnostic Gospels, The Golden Bough, but has come to the conclusion that she “knows nothing. Life is huge and marvelous and filled with wondrous, unimaginable things. Quantum physics is uncovering vast anomalies in our perception of reality. “Reality” is an illusion.”

Growing up in the perfect New York suburbs in the 50’s, Laurie felt drawing was her only outlet for releasing her inner emotions. She’s always had the support of her parents, she was never censored, and I’m sure without this support she wouldn’t be the unconventional artist that she is today. As she was growing up, politeness, chivalry and courtesy was expected, and anything out of the ordinary was frowned upon. When her parents would proudly show her art to other family members, they would be in shock! How could such mortifying images come from such a saintly young girl?

She graduated from the prestigious Carnegie-Mellon University in Pennsylvania with a Fine Arts Degree in Drawing (with honours), but was always cutting classes and sitting in the library for hours copying Durer, Memling and Van Eyck. Her attention to detail and unique drawing techniques, which mimic the Renaissance Flemish painters, has lead her to become a self-taught artist with a love for black and white, pencil and charcoal drawings.

Artist Of The Week - Laurie Lipton

The Sweets Seller makes me laugh. The expression on her face is priceless, and the fact that someone who is toothless is selling candy is pretty funny.

Artist Of The Week - Laurie Lipton

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Artist Of The Week - Laurie Lipton

Facelift

Facelift is definitely one of my favourites. Check out the scattered pearls on the floor, it’s almost like she’s been in a scuffle with someone - or something!

Okay, I know I say this all the time, but I really mean it this time (not that I don’t mean it all the other times, but you know what I’m saying..) - please go and check out Laurie’s Gallery on her website, there are far too many cool pieces, I had such a difficult time deciding which ones to use in here. She has such an extensive collection, each one tells a different story, and you can actually purchase some of her prints!

So what do you guys think? Can you resonate with her dark humour? Or is the fact that you’re going to have nightmares after viewing her pieces scared you away..?

Big love,

Ivyology on August 29th, 2008 | File Under Artist of the Week | -