Photography
LAUREN CURTIS
New Jersey-Based Photographer & Mixed Media Artist
New Jersey-Based Photographer & Mixed Media Artist
"Art, spirituality & culture are all intertwined. Through my work, I express my beliefs, which have strong roots in the power of the Feminine & Nature, and draw from various mythological and symbolic systems of both ancient and modern cultures." ~ Lauren Curtis
Curio-Cities Series: Necropolis
Photographic Collage © Lauren Curtis |
Lauren explains the content and process behind her photo collage images.
By utilizing current as well as historical imagery, the symbolism in my photographic collages adds a sense of history, time and place to the pieces. The content consists of photographic collages of human and/or animal X-rays. I found a way to photograph the actual x-rays and retain the transparent look of the images. I occasionally incorporate Victorian woodcut etchings of insects, plant life and other subjects and juxtapose them with original nature images and/or photos I shoot of cemetery and funerary statuary from across the U.S. & Europe. |
On her X-Rayted Series:
While working as a marketing coordinator in a health-care center for over ten years, I became intrigued with all the x-rays I saw during my career, depicting various states of the human skeletal system. As an artist, I was fascinated by being able to see the inner workings and sculptural forms of the human body, and I envisioned a way to incorporate them into my artwork. To me, these x-rays truly represent the spiritual and scientific wonders of nature and the human body. This lead me to create the “X-Rayted” series, which I began in early 2010 and continue to expand on.
While working as a marketing coordinator in a health-care center for over ten years, I became intrigued with all the x-rays I saw during my career, depicting various states of the human skeletal system. As an artist, I was fascinated by being able to see the inner workings and sculptural forms of the human body, and I envisioned a way to incorporate them into my artwork. To me, these x-rays truly represent the spiritual and scientific wonders of nature and the human body. This lead me to create the “X-Rayted” series, which I began in early 2010 and continue to expand on.
More on her x-RAYted series:
The photographic collages of x-rays with other components detail our existence on earth and how it is both finite and infinite. I also enjoy the connection between the organic shapes of the human and animal bones along with those of the other natural components in the pieces. This portrays the connectedness amongst human beings with other life forms on Earth.
I am also working on new pieces utilizing photos I took of animal bones, feathers and shells (all naturally found objects!). In doing so, I can represent the underlying connection between all forms of nature and how life and death are so closely intertwined – the microcosm reflects the macrocosm.
The photographic collages of x-rays with other components detail our existence on earth and how it is both finite and infinite. I also enjoy the connection between the organic shapes of the human and animal bones along with those of the other natural components in the pieces. This portrays the connectedness amongst human beings with other life forms on Earth.
I am also working on new pieces utilizing photos I took of animal bones, feathers and shells (all naturally found objects!). In doing so, I can represent the underlying connection between all forms of nature and how life and death are so closely intertwined – the microcosm reflects the macrocosm.
Lauren Curtis graduated with a BFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University and has been creating ever since. As a full-time artist, she enjoys working in a variety of media, including oils, collage, pen & ink, watercolor and photography. She is happiest when creating pieces that represent her love of nature, wildlife, travel and spiritual subject matter.
Lauren has had artwork and poetry published by greeting card and crafter companies, magazines, children’s books and historical organizations, including the Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission. One of her pieces was selected for the permanent collection of the Joyce Kilmer Library in New Jersey.
Lauren has participated in over 100 solo, group & juried exhibitions. Her artwork has been sold throughout the U.S. and abroad and displayed in private collections, healthcare centers and galleries. Lauren’s work was selected for a solo exhibit at Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters in 2009. She was a featured artist on the Science Channel‘s TV show Oddities (2011-2012), on Germany’s TAFF TV (2015), and on several New Jersey and New York City television and radio shows.
She has won multiple awards and is a member of New Jersey arts organizations.
Lauren has had artwork and poetry published by greeting card and crafter companies, magazines, children’s books and historical organizations, including the Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission. One of her pieces was selected for the permanent collection of the Joyce Kilmer Library in New Jersey.
Lauren has participated in over 100 solo, group & juried exhibitions. Her artwork has been sold throughout the U.S. and abroad and displayed in private collections, healthcare centers and galleries. Lauren’s work was selected for a solo exhibit at Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters in 2009. She was a featured artist on the Science Channel‘s TV show Oddities (2011-2012), on Germany’s TAFF TV (2015), and on several New Jersey and New York City television and radio shows.
She has won multiple awards and is a member of New Jersey arts organizations.