Laurie Buman

At the heart of my work lies my personal search for the divine. I am constantly looking for ways to understand it, make it tangible and express its beauty within our world. My pieces attempt to capture my deep yearning and longing for spiritual meaning in everyday life.

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Laurie Buman

Biography

I am a Chicago-based artist best known for mixed media pieces that often combine digital technology with traditional mediums such as: pastel, acrylic, wax, gold leaf and photography.The work is rooted in my personal search for the sacred and divine that is frequently found in the indigenous cultures and rituals of Mexico.

My approach is to create pieces layered with meaning beyond the obvious. Every component and image within each work has its own unique history. I purposefully combine them to tell a greater story that transcends the physical and touches the spiritual

This body of work is my way of bringing light into the darkness. It is inspired by long-held beliefs ofMexican culture, most notably from Catholicism, and the selfless legacy of saints. Through these pieces, I humbly attempt to reflect upon social issues that affect the most vulnerable among us today.

Artist Statement

Search for the sacred

At the heart of my work lies my personal search for the divine. I am constantly looking for ways to understand it, make it tangible and express its beauty within our world. My pieces attempt to capture my deep yearning and longing for spiritual meaning in everyday life

Like all things sacred, my work is layered with meaning beyond the obvious. Every item and image within a piece has a history all its own, and when combined they tell a greater story that transcends the physical. Each creation represents a personal journey that requires me to challenge my own belief systems and reinterpret what I think is true. It is a space in which the line between belief and knowledge becomes blurred, just as my work reflects both the real and the abstract.

“My creations are my way of being a light in the darkness”

Blue Period

This body of work is inspired by the cyanotype process which was first introduced by John Herschel in 1842. These images blur the line between painting and photography and reflect both the real and the abstract

In my “Awakening” series, I forever capture the ephemeral beauty of Spring blossoms and the ever-changing landscape. The intense Prussian blue adds depth and drama to the work , while my addition of spices, pastel, charcoal, marker, acrylic and watercolor add layers of texture and complexity. I delight in the spontaneous outcomes of the medium and the intuitive journey it takes me on. I am continuously pushing the boundaries of this traditional medium