BIRTHPLACE Los Angeles, California HOME Los Angeles, California OCCUPATION Architecturally-inspired visual artist who creates painted and sculpted Technicolor remixes of downtown South-Central L.A. that sample neighborhood aesthetics in the built environment. VENUES MOMA, New York; HOME Greater Manchester Art Centre, UK; The Studio Museum, Harlem; Yale University INSPIRATONS For my 12th grade art show I submitted a life-size boom box, dj set-up and speaker equipment built of recycled cardboard, household knick-knacks and other found objects. I loved the process of intuitively building at human scale. I realized I was interested in exploring the discourse of architecture through art rather than the service of architecture for clients.
CalArts was an amazing experience. I was able to take courses in hip-hop history, holography, black history, art history, music, printmaking, etc. I was able to engage with students in other fields and it felt natural. I enjoyed working, having studio visits and independent studies with professors both in and outside of the Art School. I was deeply inspired by students and professors who were passionate about their respective practices, extremely smart, generous and caring.
ARTIST STATEMENT Some examples of oppressive architecture and architectural materials: schools that architecturally resemble prisons, protective bars and gates on homes, excessive amounts of bulletproof glass in stores, gas stations, mini-markets, food spots. I’m interested in creating spatial interventions in my neighborhood that affirm the public through architecture and building. I want to create black architectural wonders in my neighborhood, in which people see themselves.
PHOTO: RAFAEL HERNANDEZ
FAVORITE PROJECT Currently, I’m working on my first public project, The Crenshaw District Hieroglyph Project, a hybrid public art installation and a community market created in collaboration with residents of the district. The autonomous hieroglyphic structures invite the public to author their own narratives through carved engravings, while programming will generate tangible economic benefits. I author and construct ephemeral environments to counter oppressive architecture and spatial metaphors that reinforce familiar narratives and stereotypes of inferiority. ACCOLADES “When I first saw Lauren Halsey’s work-in-progress during her residency at the Studio Museum in Harlem, I was stupefied. The installation was genuinely a new experience, challenging my notion of visual and spatial aesthetics. I knew this was an artist I had to know more about.”—Todd Gray, Artillery magazine “Lauren is an amazing, promising artist”—Cortney Stell, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum in Westword magazine
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