Artist 4 years old, Baton Rouge.
Laura Berendsen Hughes is an acrylic painter working in Durham, North Carolina, USA. She paints dramatic, monumental silhouettes that balance initial spontaneity with the maturity of many layers of washes, impastos and line work. She has a BFA in sculpture from UNC - Chapel Hill and has worked as a professional graphic designer for many years. She uses her graphic design skills as an integral part of the process of creating initial compositions as well as adding final twists and turns.
Artist Statements
When I paint I'm attempting to use my accumulative skills to make something beautiful. Beauty isn't the same as prettiness, although pretty also requires skill. For me beauty is deeper and must contain chaos decay and imperfection. What looks intuitive and spontaneous in my work actually starts with a fairly tight plan. I create a computer “sketch” so that I don't have to think too much during the initial painting process. I’m an unapologetic copyist. I steal brush stokes, colors, shapes and techniques from other paintings to build my sketches. I use that digital guide as long as it doesn’t feel constrictive, I’m not just executing a plan, every step of the process is open to new inspiration. I’m a materialist at heart, I love to see what the paint wants to do and let it have a say in what finally shows up!
Equine Work
I remember obsessively drawing horses as a child. When I began to paint again I quickly reclaimed them as a subject. I enjoy their dramatic, monumental silhouettes but I attempt to portray them without sentimentality or such things as romantic flowing manes and tails. I begin with abstract under paintings and use these to provide marks and color passages that I then choose to keep or remove.
Abstracts
My abstract work is created with many techniques. I paint multiple layers until there is a sense of final maturity. I refine the seemingly spontaneous and varied marks until they become more rich and satisfying. I often take large risks at the end with the introduction of negative spaces that break up the composition and repositions the parts into new shapes.
Titles
I title my works after the ecstatic love poems of the poet and Sufi mystic Rumi. The way he describes the spiritual nature of physical reality and the ultimate goal of uniting with the Devine reflect what I experience when involved in artistic creativity.
Gallery Representation
Carlton Gallery, Banner Elk, NC
The Centerpiece Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Current & Upcoming Exhibits
March 2021, Solo Show, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC
May 2021 - Solo Show, Hillsborough Arts Council, Hillsborough, NC
January 2022 - Solo Show, Mims Gallery, Weslyan University, Rocky Mount, NC
Past Exhibits
June - August 2012, Saladelia, Hock Plaza Durham, NC – Solo Exhibit
October 2012 - January 2013, Broad St., Durham, NC – Solo Exhibit
November 2012 - February, 2013 Mad Hatter, Durham NC – Solo Exhibit
February 2013 - Durham Arts Guild Sweet Art Festival – Participating Artist
February - Ongoing - Bull Street Gourmet & Market, Durham NC
April 2013, Urban Durham Realty, Durham NC – Solo Exhibit
April 2013 - Durham Art Walk – Participating Artist
May 2013 - The Carrack Modern Art – Painting Gone Wild Group Show
May 2013 - Durham Arts Council – Faculty and Student Show
June 2013 - Carrack Modern – Community Show
June 2013 - Broad Street Cafe – Co-show
June 2013 - Joe Van Gogh – Solo Exhibit
July 2013 - Saladelia, University Drive – Solo Exhibit
November 2013 - Mad Hatter’s Cafe – Solo Exhibit
December 2013 - Busy Bee – Solo Exhibit
February 2014 Joe Van Gogh – Solo Exhibit
February 2014 – Alizarin Gallery
July 2014 - Lillly’s Pizza – Solo Exhibit
Oct 2014 – Bank of the Arts Juried Show (Honorable Mention)
December 2014 - Busy Bee – Solo Exhibit
Jan 2015 – Hillsborough Gallery juried show RESOLUTIONS (Peoples Choice award)
March 2015 - Reflection Gallery at Church of the Good Shepherd – Group Exhibit
June 2015 - Carrboro Arts Center – Solo Exhibit
Oct 2015 - Art’s of the Albermarle Gallery – Solo Exhibit
Nov-Jan 2016 - Saladelia, Hock – Solo Exhibit
Jan 2016 – Hillsborough Gallery juried show RESOLUTIONS
March 2016 - The Kirby Gallery – Solo Exhibit
June 2016 - Busy Bee – Solo Exhibit
July 2016 - The FRANK Gallery – Group Invitational
Aug 24 – Sept 24, 2016 - Hillsborough Arts Council – Solo Exhibit
Sept. 16 – 2016 Pop-Up Gallery, Golden Belt Artist Studios, Durham
Sept 17 - Nov 11 – 2016 Wild Horses of the Outer Banks, Carolina Artist Gallery, Morehead City NC (honorable mention)
Nov-Jan 2017 - Saladelia, University Drive – Solo Exhibit
Jan 2017 - Hillsborough Gallery "Resolutions" Juried Show
March 2017 - The Kirby Gallery – Solo Exhibit
June 2017 - Art’s of the Albermarle Gallery – Solo Exhibit
Sept-Oct - Group Show Carlton Gallery, Boone
April 2018 - Carrboro Arts Center – Duo Exhibit
July-Sept 2018 - Captain White House, Graham, NC – Solo Exhibit
October 2018 - Kirby Theater Opening Reception, Roxboro, NC – Solo Exhibit
Sept-Nov 2018 - Saladelia, University Drive – Solo Exhibit
Nov-Jan 2019 - Saladelia, Hock Plaza – Solo Exhibit
Jan-April 2019 - Yoga for Life – Charlotte, NC – Solo Exhibit
July 2019 - Art’s of the Albermarle Gallery – Solo Exhibit
Aug-Sept 2019 - Caldwell Arts Council – Lenoir, NC – 3 Artist Exhibit
Sept 2019 - Artist Spotlight Show, The Centerpiece Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Oct 2019 - Group Show, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC (Best of Show)
March 2020 - Group Juried Show, "Abstracts Matter" 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
March 2020 - Art Room Abstract Show, (Merit Awards), online gallery Juried Show
March 2020 311 Gallery ABSTRACTS MATTER Juried Show
July - Sept 2020 Re-Awakening - Goldenbelt Durham, NC
Spring - Fall 2020 Solo Shows Saladelia, University Dr. & Hock Plaza, Durham, NC
Spring - Fall 2020 Group Show Carlton Gallery, Boone, NC
January 2021, Spotlight Show, The Centerpiece Gallery, Raleigh, NC
March 2021 - Art’s of the Albermarle Gallery – Solo Exhibit
May 2021 - Hillsborough Arts Council - Dual Exhibit
June-July 2021 - Carlton Gallery Spring Exhibition
