Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Jean MCLAUGHLIN. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Laura Jean thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
One of the most meaningful projects that I have worked on is creating a commissioned tile mural for the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. I was contacted by Jose Carlos Diaz who was at the time the chief curator at the museum, about creating a public art piece celebrating the artwork and life of Julia Warhola, Andy’s mom. She was extremely influential in Andy’s life as an artist. She did almost all of the calligraphy in Andys artwork and was an amazing artist herself, actually depicting the Campbells soup can, cherubs and cats sitting on and wearing hats well before Andy drew them. I loved researching and learning so much about her artwork and it has really influenced my artwork. Her drawings are very free flowing and joyful and I love sharing her positive and playful vision to everyone who visits the museum. The mural is now a permanent part of the museum and I love being able to share her legacy and brilliance with the public since it is located on the museum itself. The mural is 10′ X 15′ and contains 1,350 hand created and carved porcelain tiles
Laura Jean, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a full time artist who primarily works with clay and received my MFA from West Virginia University. It is an honor to create artwork for clients tranforming their environments into contemplative and beautiful spaces.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is being able to take a thought or a concept and bring it into life through various mediums
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
One of my main missions driving my creative journey is to spread positivity and joy through my artwork. I hope to enhance peoples daily visual experience be it through functional objects such as ceramic tables, cups, bowls and plates or strictly visual delights such as murals, sculptures, mosaics and paintings
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurajeanmclaughlin.com
- Instagram: @ljmclay
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kloJ4wCzcNk
Image Credits
1 “Julia”, the Andy WArhol Museum, 1350 porcelain tiles Pittsburgh, Photo by Kitoko 2 “South Side Schlumpy Funk”, 77 mosaic stelps created with the Southside community in Pittsburgh, photo Ed Massery 3 Laura Jean McLaughlin working on “Julia for the Andy WArhol museum, Photo by Will Smith 4 “Willow” porcelain sculpture, photo by Lonnie Graham 5 “The Bath”, porcelain tile mural created for the UPMC Vision Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, PHoto by Laura Jean McLaughlin