It’s the aim of every artist to be provocative. With a blend of styles and mediums, including magical realism, abstraction, oil paint, and watercolor, as well as themes that explore issues of gender, race, class, and identity, artist Laura Vela beautifully achieves her goal. Her works combine symbolism and simplicity for heady effect—and when you consider she graduated in 2014 from Kennesaw State University with a BFA in drawing and painting and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies, it’s pretty easy to understand how and why her talents and interests converge and compliment each other as seamlessly as they do. With work previously shown at Beep Beep Gallery’s Alchemy show as well as the most recent Ladyfest ATL, this up-and-comer is poised to make a big, beautiful splash on the Atlanta art scene.
Here, we talk to Vela about inspiration, passion, the supportive community amongst other Atlanta artists, and what’s next for her.
Common Creativ: What led you to become an artist?
Laura Vela: I don’t really know when I started making art. I’ve always been creative, I guess. In elementary school I failed kindergarten because I couldn’t speak English, but by the time I was in fourth grade they put me in the gifted program, not because I was smart, but because of my scores in the creativity portions. I don’t know, for me personally, that was the first time I can remember feeling good about something art related, and really about the school system in general—ha.
CC: What inspires you?
LV: Everything: My mother, my sisters, my cousins and aunts, my friends, Mexican culture, Chicana culture, travel, literature and theory, as well as poetry, museums, other artists and their work, coffee, the woods, natural light, being alone, and also clean/interesting work spaces.
CC: How do you choose your themes?
LV: I make better work when I am really into my subject/theme. In school, I had trouble making work I was passionate about. I found inspiration in my English classes, and ended up with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. I found that the things I wanted to read about were also the things I wanted to make art about, which seems simple enough. It took me some time to realize and nurture my founding interests to be able to make art from them and contribute to different conversations that mean something to me through art making.
CC: You recently participated in Ladyfest Atlanta—what was that experience like for you?
LV: Ladyfest was so so so great! There were so many awesome things going on, I only wish I had been able to go to all of them. For me, it was a really great experience to see my pieces showcased in a manner which existed outside the white box of a traditional museum or gallery. There were candles next to the portrait of my mother, which seemed so appropriate and it was really touching for me to see that particular painting celebrated in such a way (also, ‘vela’ means ‘candle’ in Spanish!). I’m just happy that I was able to have a little part in Ladyfest, also the Broadstreet Visitors Center is such a great space, I really hope they continue to have shows there!
CC: What do you hope to accomplish with your art?
LV: I think the main thing that I want to accomplish with my artwork is to make people think, and to celebrate different things that are important to me. On the most superficial level, I love making artwork for myself; I’m only happy when I am productive/making things.
Artist Laura Vela (center) with one of her pieces.
CC: Tell me about your creative process.
LV: My creative process is a little hard to describe because it’s different with every piece. I’ve been trying to get it down to one specific way that I make work for a few years, especially while I was in school, but it’s hard. I work from photographs, which I stage and take. They are always of friends and family, as well as of myself (but I wouldn’t necessarily want to call them self portraits). Oh, I have my materials down! I only paint on panel or hard surfaces with soft bristle brushes. But other than those things, it’s totally random. Sometimes I take time to draw the image out completely before I begin, other times I just start painting, and when I just start painting sometimes I’ll have a complete underpainting and other times I don’t. I switch up my color palette for skin tones, I’ll start my lights sometimes (which I know I’m not supposed to do) and sometimes i’ll start with my darks. I’m kind of all over the place. Other than my materials, I have to have an idea and know exactly what its about and what I want it to look like, I also have to be really into it or it’ll be awful and I’ll never finish it.
CC: How did you develop your style?
LV: I developed my style through just making work in the way that feels natural. I want my stuff to be representational, but not quite realistic. I want there to be room for exaggeration. Symbolism is very important to me, as well as simplicity, and attention to detail. My favorite part of painting is getting to work on small details, like the sparkles and reflections in eyes, or highlights on skin.
CC: Is there anything in particular that makes the art scene in Atlanta stand out from other cities?
LV: I really like Atlanta because there’s always stuff going on and so many great spaces, but also because there are so many encouraging and inspiring people here. I love being around other people who make things or who are trying to make things happen, and I feel like people are super excited and invested in each others’ work here. I don’t feel negativity or ugly competitiveness coming from the art scene, which is really great. Also, I particularly love The Low Museum, Murmur, Mammal Gallery, Kibbee Gallery and events like Ladyfest for creating spaces for people to show their work and making the art world more tangible.
CC: What’s next for you?
LV: I’m not sure what’s next for me. I’ve been applying to different residencies and programs so hopefully at least one of them sticks. I want a studio space so I don’t have to try and work on stuff in my bedroom anymore ha, other than that I don’t know, I mostly just need to paint/make more!
