We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Irmis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I feel my artwork is very personal and meaningful to me, it expresses stories and experiences about my lineage and my life. But when I think back, I believe the TRUST BIRTH Art Exhibition was the most meaningful as a whole.

I organized and curated the TRUST BIRTH Art Exhibition at Charlie Parker Pottery in the Warehouse Arts District nine years ago. This show exhibited art, music, belly casting, and celebrated families within our community. The idea of the show was to have an open forum about birthing rights and exhibit others’ art reflecting these important decisions of motherhood. The concept was to inform families that they have options and choices in birthing. ~If you don’t know your choices, you don’t have any.~

As a birth educator and artist, I believe strongly in the power of women and their reproductive birth rights. I think every family deserves a happy and healthy birth experience. I want people to be part of conversations about women’s rights to validate and empower women and families on pregnancy, birth options, breastfeeding, and early parenting. My ceramic art reflects this passion in subtle textures and underglaze.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Creating was an innate ability for me at a young age and eventually, I understood how vital it was for me. Art was a constant, a protection, an expressional response. It was a way I could try to propel myself through life while trying to find a sense of place in this world.

In high school, I became mesmerized by the feel of soft clay and its magnificent limitless ability to become anything possible. After that touch, I moved from drawing and painting to building and glazing and have been chasing mud ever since.

My current body of work reflects upon my lineage, childhood, and life experiences where I explore the intricate balance of space, form, and a limited color palette. By adding texture and surface decoration in a sort of compulsive meditation, I work on the piece until a perfect balance is created. As I paint, throw, alter and build I am interested in what happens with the form, line, edge, and their relationships. Each piece tells a story.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe St. Pete supports the beauty of art and handmade artwork but education is really the key. People need to believe in and understand the value of the amount of time it takes to create art. Handmade art isn’t cheap, and shouldn’t be. Once we respect the artist we can respect the artwork.

Artists can thrive when the public is educated.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I must create. That is my goal. I am fulfilled when I am in a headspace of creation. I do, however, hope my work shifts thinking differently. I want my work to spark conversations about birthing and reproductive rights.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laurairmisceramics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurairmiscreates/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurairmis/

Image Credits
some photos taken by @adamtpopartist