Biography
Tall pines. Lonely peaks. Exquisite birds. The artwork of Laura G. Young is steeped in the mountain worlds she grew up in. Born in Appalachia and raised in the Rockies, Laura has called Fort Collins, Colorado her home since she was nine years old.
A childhood of hiking, scouting, and wilderness tales fueled her imagination and filled her notebooks with drawings. "There weren't any artists in my family," she explains, "so I was a bit of an anomaly! But they were creative in other ways, especially sharing stories and dreams. I think making pictures was my way of adding to the conversation."
In high school, Laura had the opportunity to study in Eastern Europe as part of an academic exchange program and spent many a happy afternoon exploring galleries and museums. "It was my first encounter with art, real art," she says, "and it impressed me so much that I knew I wanted to do the same. I wanted to know how to make something at that level...not just the technical mastery, but being at a place where I could reach out and start a visual discussion; to engage with the viewer at a deeper level." After teaching English abroad for a couple years, she resolved to return to painting and began seeking out instructors and workshops to accomplish this goal.
Laura's work now hangs in private collections across the country with top awards from various art organizations, including the Susan K. Black Foundation. Her work has been exhibited in the PAAC National Show in Boulder, the Vida Ellison Gallery in Denver, and the Keimig Gallery of Western Art in Wyoming.
Laura feels that her upbringing in the American West, a place that's renowned for its rich geological heritage, dramatic vistas and varied wildlife, has informed her art in ways that might not have happened otherwise.
"I'm especially interested in areas of rapid transition and how we, as humans, are adding or detracting from the natural beauty around us. Making art is my way of slowing down and purposefully appreciating a particular bird, mountain or tree that I otherwise might've overlooked,” Laura says. “By painting, I hope to share this appreciation with others.”
