Most of my early emerging work was shown in New York City during the incredible 80's. The New York art scene was amazingly intense--I feel very fortunate to have lived through the experience.  My life changed drastically when I moved my family back to Ohio.  Through the 1990's I switched gears and did not show my work in galleries instead concentrated on architectural commissions--many for large retailers and fabulously posh boutiques!  Since the year 2000 I have been traveling to folk art shows, which I love since I actually get to meet all of you.  It keeps it real--really! In 2005 Jen O'Connor began representing my work so I always suggest people check with her first when looking for more of my work.

laurie shuran meseroll

Painting is the blood of my life.

There is a pulse as moments of creativity come naturally in waves. Paint dances on my canvas. Drawing itself  keeps me grounded in life.

Most of my work  is narrative and  necessarily autobiographical in nature.  I find inspiration in first hand accounts of magical and romantic experiences.

I prefer to take the slow road to catch the scenery.

In painting it is always an experiment.  I tend to find enormous depth in ordinary everyday activity so I work outside of storytelling and try to capture feeling and twist it around a bit to offer an intriguing image. My paintings flow from the realm of characters and stories into unexplored areas of stillness and reflection.

I have been fortunate to live as an artist my entire life with much sincere thanks to my family, friends and patrons. My parents supplied me with paint and made certain the world saw my work from a very, very early age --one of my first paintings of an angel was shown publically in 1963 at the Columbus Museum of Art.  My training has been as a sculptor, first as an apprentice in the late 70's to Japanese Master Arthur Towata at Craft Alliance Gallery in St.Louis then at SUNY Purchase and Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, where I earned my BFA with professional honors. I attended graduate school at the University of Cincinnati for Architecture.  It was there that I learned above all else I am a painter and must follow my bliss.

When asked what my style is called I've decided it's best described as non-traditional folk art.  

American Folk art is my greatest influence...

and then there's Rothko...

I work in three very distinct styles:

PORTRAITS are very outsider-art-ish and the truest to what I am like in my everyday world.  Most of these reflect conversations, hopes and dreams of me, my best friends, and my very-loved daughters Tatiana and Sophia.

TONAL NUDES and LANDSCAPES are the work of the side of me that is very quiet, romantic and dreamy.  I am a true Sagitarian and am always dreaming of those far-away places that I need to escape to.  My spiritual home will always be in the Catskills so many of these paintings reflect my longing for the Hudson Valley and the mountains of upstate New York.

COLLAGES and ASSEMBLEGES are what I do at night with my kids instead of watching TV--really! (click here for a rare photo of my daughter Tasie watching tv) While the rest of our neighborhood is quiet you can hear the buzz of saws, drills and hammering from our very unique big red house.  Jacob wanted a mig welder for his 14th birthday so that's REALLY added to the fun.  Style-wise I use elements from all my paintings .  I admit I am a bit obsessed with working on collages,it's such a great excuse to go to a flea markets and auctions to look through cool old stuff.