Amy Laskin

Lives and works in Jamaica

Artist statement

Several life experiences resonated with me and sent me on a trajectory that helped me develop my artistic voice. I moved to Chicago to earn my MFA at SAIC, and during that time I took classes with Christina Ramberg. I realized that I felt an affinity for her use of visual puns and depictions of abstracted body parts in her image making. Ten years later I completed a contract as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica and I rented a studio in the rural Blue Mountains. Here, I found a deep connection with nature's treasures and mysteries. The wisdom of my soul realized the importance of living closely among a widely diverse racial, ethnic and cultural population. I sought to marry my Chicago experiences with my new natural and culturally diverse environment. In my practice I archive images and collect artifacts from nature, then combine them using paint on a smooth substrate to re-imagine and re-contextualize their meaning; I want my paintings to evoke an emotional response. I observe nature in my surroundings and from images; I also look at images of clothing and historical fashion, including different periods and peoples from around the world. I'm interested in decorative abundance and I pay attention to details. I build up many thin layers of blended paint and marks in a meticulous way in an attempt to make my vision convincing. My entities are feminine; they are bursting with abundant colorful blooms. My landscapes are mysterious and the incorporation of snippets of...

Artwork