Newmarket artist, Laura Higgins, has been creating vibrant acrylic paintings for over twenty years. She attempts to infuse ordinary moments and scenes with meaning and beauty through light, colour, composition and a hint of magic realism. Laura exhibits regularly in solo and group shows in Toronto and York Region and has won awards for her paintings in juried shows. Many private collections in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom feature her work, including commissioned pieces.


Artist's Statement

At first it may seem that my painting subjects don’t have a lot in common with one another. I rarely, if ever, paint the same subject twice. However, there is an underlying theme of hope and gratitude that connects these diverse images.

Many paintings are visual metaphors that illustrate a reminder, a lesson or a revelation that I want to focus on. Although only some of my images are literally figurative, there is nearly always a human element to my subject. The fiddleheads symbolize inner potential for spiritual growth. “Rising” bean plants look to me like people beginning to stand again, having been buried in sadness. The wooden stairs encourage me to climb. A path appears for me to walk towards hope.

These paintings show how I want to see the world, see others, see myself. They magnify my small lens of optimism and make that hope more visually concrete and palpable. Creating and surrounding my self with these images reminds me of the sacredness of life and engages me in a spirit of thanksgiving.

Exhibitions
2011 Newmarket Celebrates the Arts Gala - Newmarket Group of Artists Collective Exhibition Pickering College, Newmarket
15th Annual Orillia and Area International Women's Day Art Show Orillia Museum of Art and History, Orillia

2010

Newmarket Studio Tour Studio 449, Newmarket
2009 Fashion Affair for Art Medical Building at Southlake, Newmarket
10th Anniversary Spring Fling and Ovarian Cancer Canada Fundraiser Gallery 888, Toronto
2008 The Latcham Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
2007 Paintings by Laura Higgins Everything Chocolate, Newmarket
The Latcham Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
2004 The Latcham Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
2003 York Region Juried Exhibition Varley Art Gallery, Markham
  Water The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
  Riverdale Art Walk Gallery 888, Toronto
2002 Home (solo) Gallery 888, Toronto
  Arts Etobicoke Juried Show Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Toronto
  York Region Juried Exhibition Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham
  Grace (solo) Gallery 888, Toronto
  Season for Nonviolence Juried Exhibition Gallery 888, Toronto
2001 York Region Juried Exhibition Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham

The Latcham Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
2000 York Region Juried Exhibition Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham
  Art in the Park Markham Museum, Markham
1999 Art Instructors' Show Kathleen Gormley McKay Art Centre, Unionville
  York Region Juried Exhibition Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham
  Courtyard Art Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham
1998 Step-about (solo) Kathleen Gormley McKay Art Centre, Markham
1995 F.E.U.T. Art Exhibition Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
1993 The Dinner Party The Rivoli, Toronto
1992 Phree Phood St. Paul's Centre at Trinity, Toronto
  Uphobias St. Paul's Centre at Trinity, Toronto
  The Way Must Be Tried Morrow Gallery, Toronto
  Generation (solo) Winter's Gallery, Toronto
1991 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
  Fine Arts Showcase Samuel Beckett Theatre, Toronto
  Winter's Showcase Exhibition Winter's College, Toronto
1988 Art Works Exhibition Scarborough Civic Centre Rotunda, Toronto
Awards
2007 Jurors' Choice
Annual Juried Exhibition
The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
2002 Jurors' Award of Merit
York Region Juried Exhibition
Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham
2001 Jurors' Choice
Annual Juried Exhibition
The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville
1999 Jurors' Award of Merit
York Region Juried Exhibition
Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, Markham
Publications
2002 "Designing Hope" Written by Susan O'Neill, The Mirror, Beach/Riverdale, Friday April 19
2000 "Set dancing artists in Miltown" Written by Bill Lynch, Set Dancing News, August-September Issue
Collections
  Paintings in many private collections in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom including commissioned works.
Education
1995 Bachelor of Education University of Toronto
1994 Master of Arts - English University of Guelph
1992 Honours Bachelor of Art - English, History, Visual Art York University
Teaching
2007 Demonstrator and Workshop Instructor Self-Portraiture, Richmond Hill Group of Artists, Richmond Hill
Artist in the Classroom On Acrylic Painting: Choosing Subjects, Composition, Technique, Stouffville Secondary School, Stouffville
Workshop Instructor Help Your Paintings "Speak", Schoolhouse Group of Artists, Stouffville
2004 Demonstrator and Workshop Instructor Acrylic Portraiture and Landscape, Richmond Hill Group of Artists, Richmond Hill
2003 Workshop Instructor Landscape and Water in Acrylics, Schoolhouse Group of Artists, Stouffville
2002 Workshop Instructor Introduction to Portraiture, Portraiture in Acrylics, Schoolhouse Group of Artists, Stouffville
2001 Course Instructor Introduction to Landscape Art, Introduction to Acrylics, F.H. Varley Art Gallery, Markham
2000 Course Instructor Intermediate Portraiture, Introduction to Acrylics, F.H. Varley Art Gallery, Markham
1999 Course Instructor Introduction to Portraiture, F.H. Varley Art Gallery, Markham
Related Activities
1999 Assistant Set Painter Set for Shaw's St. Joan, Upstart Crow Theatre Group
  Artist and Consultant TrueSpectra/AIMCO Demo Project, TrueSpectra Inc., Toronto
1997 Commissioned Artist Exhibit Backdrop, Markham District Historical Museum, Markham
1995 Curatorial Committee Member, Juror Student Art Show Committee, F.E.U.T., Toronto
1992 Mural Artist Theatre Set for No Place to Go Except Close, Fringe Festival, Toronto
Professional Associations
  CARFAC Ontario

 

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