lauren sanderfer

Lives and works in NYC, NY, USA

Artist statement

The current direction of my work explores figures in nature which act as a psychological projection of the mind’s fears, anxieties, and secrets through the exploration of the horrifying sublime. I take inspiration from the "death and the maiden" trope to show the passing of time because eventually the two will inextricable. I mostly choose to represent myself as embodying the maiden archetype. I often use nature as a vehicle to represent the sublime while also intending it to be a psychological space of the figure rather than an actual place in reality. I am also conscious of different aspects of spirituality that contribute to my artistic process. I like to explore the vastness of the human imagination by employing lucid dreaming techniques or deep meditation, which allow me to dive into my subconscious mind. I also like to ask my dreams questions before I go to sleep with the intention of waking up with inspiration that leads me down a labyrinth of ideas. It is in the deep recesses of the psyche where I can access unconscious material that I use as archetypal motifs within my work. The high resolution in which I render the figures is an integral part of the narrative because it is a way I can convince the viewer of a hyper-reality that feels uncanny in a familiar way. I believe that by drawing from the inner world in this way, one is able to tap into the collective unconscious and embed suggestions within the painting. I approach my work with maximalist detail as if each...

Artwork