Jennifer Laurie
 
Jenny completed a Fine Arts Degree at Claremont School of Art in 1994, having previously worked as an Interior Designer.  Since then she has been an active studio artist, initially with Open Bite Studio which was run as a vibrant co-operative of C.S.A. Graduates and included a printmaking studio.  The group participated in the Fremantle Festival, had in-house exhibitions and several shows at the Moores Building.  She is now painting at Artspace Gallery Studio in Nedlands with her business partner, Janie Benzie, which provides a stimulating and supportive environment interacting with other artists and gallery-goers.
 
More recently Jenny has been referencing the landscape in her work to inspire semi-abstract images with emphasis on colour, shape and balance.  This exploration of a personal aesthetic follows numerous trips to the Kimberley and Pilbara regions and draws on ancient land formations and waterways seen both from the air and by boat.
 
Her other main area of work is the practice of icon writing with egg tempera on wood panels, including water-gilding, which Jenny has been studying with a master iconographer.  Apart from learning the very particular artistic skills, she is fascinated with the rich historical traditions and sacred symbolism behind these glowing images of saints – and sinners!
 
To quote the artist Rod Millgate, “painting is about ‘talking’ to yourself, and the human need to seek something more’.
 
Apart from having her work at Artspace Gallery, Jenny regularly exhibits in various group shows and supports community fundraisers.  One such exhibition helped the choir at St George’s Cathedral attend an Anzac service in France.
 
Her works are represented in private collections locally, interstate and overseas.
 
EXHIBITIONS
 
1994     St Catherine’s College, University of Western Australia
1996     Northam Art Prize Exhibition
            Katanning Art Prize Exhibition – “Highly Commended”
            Five at Amberley – Amberley Winery, Margaret River
            Open Bite Studio at Bickley Art Gallery
1997     City of Perth Christmas Festival
            MLC Collegians & Friends Art Exhibition
1998     Northam Art Prize Exhibition
1999     MLC Collegians & Friends Art Exhibition
2000     Co-judge Town of Claremont children’s poster prize
2001     “Quartet” group exhibition at Accent Fine Art Gallery, Dalkeith
            MLC Collegians & Friends Art Exhibition
2002     Maritime Exhibition at Open Bite Studio as part of Fremantle Festival
            Chittering Valley art trail community project
2003     Moores Building, Fremantle, Open Bite Studio group exhibition
            MLC Collegians & Friends Art Exhibition
            “Retablos” Fremantle Arts Centre
2004     Open Bite Studio group exhibition as part of Fremantle Festival “Laughter”
2005     Inaugural Artspace Gallery, Nedlands, exhibition “New Start on Hampden”
            MLC Collegians & Friends Art Exhibition
2006     “Mix” Artspace Gallery, Nedlands
            Arthritis Foundation exhibition
2007     Jylland Winery exhibition
            MLC Collegians & Friends Art Exhibition
            Artspace Gallery, St Vincent de Paul Christmas Exhibition
2008     Icon Exhibition, Ballidu
            “C” Restaurant, Perth
            Artspace Gallery, Anglicare Christmas Exhibition