American History
Laura had always been interested in the topic of slavery and contemplated creating a painting with this theme for some time. When she learned about a Black man who was dragged to death in Texas in 1998, and later saw an image of a man who had been dragged in a book called "100 Black Voices," she felt compelled to finally begin a series of paintings addressing the legacy of American slavery and the generational inequality that has been sowed since.
“The past is not dead, it’s not even past.” – William Faulkner
Laura has always been interested in the topics of race relations and class, creating paintings with these themes throughout her 30-year artistic career. The history of African enslavement in the United States, Jim Crow, and all that followed is vast, and her American History series aims to illuminate the continuing inequities stemming from this history.
If we are ever to advance as a nation of equal citizens, we must look honestly at our past and address what we can, not just gloss over the hard issues to 'move on'. To that end, the paintings in this series deal with topics such as inherited wealth, direct connections between lynching and modern-day police brutality, and horrifying slave-era and Jim Crow laws aimed at justifying and decriminalizing abuse and killing of Black people.
The Prints
Inheritance
A contrast between a leisurely white family in mid-century luxury with physically restrained Black domestic workers. Historical portraits and fine art adorn walls topped with subtle slave ship imagery—a powerful visual metaphor for America’s shared racial inheritance.
A Sermon for Our Ancestors
A Black historical reimagining of biblical narrative honoring ancestral resilience, suffering and spirit through sacred visual storytelling.
American History
Bold folk art confronts America’s painful racial history through distinctive style, blending aesthetic appeal with historical truth.
Not Even Past
Powerful artwork depicts American racial violence through history, examining how troubled past continues shaping our present with raw clarity.
Second Touch
Reimagining biblical healing through the lens of racial justice, suggesting true clarity demands deeper engagement with dismantling racism.
