About
My art gently connects, appreciates and interacts with the miracles of every moment.
Whether abstract or fanciful, dreamlike or representational, my images are visual metaphors.
When exploring and playing with material possibilities and limits, surprises and the unexpected lead the way.
I primarily work with glass (cutting, fusing, breaking, casting) and ceramics (slab and sculptural). Metals, including bronze casting, wood, fossils and stones find their ways in. Texture and relief surfaces spark me as do chemical reactions in glass.
I have permanent mosaic installations at the Albuquerque Zoo as well as the Botanic Garden’s Dragonfly Sanctuary and was commissioned by the Norman Oklahoma Arts Council to create a mosaic at their Lions Park. My work can also be seen locally at The Range Cafes, Rust Medical Center Chapel and other businesses, schools, developments and private homes in New Mexico. It has been included in publications and articles. I am a founding member of Mosaic New Mexico and part of Wild Hearts Gallery – both collaborative ventures.
Mosaic is an excellent medium for community involvement and I co-directed the seventy foot long Placitas Community Mosaic mural, Protect Our Wildlife Corridors. I received a BFA from Carnegie-Mellon University where I primarily studied printmaking. A teacher for twenty years, I helped to found Bosque Preparatory School in Albuquerque and began their art program. I became a full-time professional mosaic artist in 2003.
Joy, as well as detailed work is inherent to my mosaic process!
a poem:
Sometimes I see that life is a mosaic. The steppingstones, the bricks we build with, the objects we surround ourselves with. The leaves of the branch, the trees. The petals of the sunflower, the pattern of seeds. The cellular structures, the molecules, the stars. Our emotions, the thoughts that occupy our minds.
The placement of pieces clarifies my mind. The choices bring me into the flow of the continuum. I find a kind of elation in the spontaneity of creativity. Some paint, some write, some sing, some see into the science of things: of space and matter. I have ideas, cut glass, form clay; am thankful for all those who have prepared the materials I use.
Thankful to the earth that holds me. Thankful for not being separate. Thankful for being in creativity.
My Story
I remember being a child and my father pointing out artwork that was “relief” sculpture. Textured surfaces have inspired me since childhood and I’ve been on the path of choosing to be an artist since I was eight years old.
During my twenties, I was primarily a printmaker, making “relief” color etching plates, deeply carved with acid. As an art teacher, I encouraged my students to explore and solve problems using many mediums. It was as a teacher that I gained real knowledge about mosaic technique. Since becoming a professional mosaic artist over twenty years ago, I appreciate that the words muse and mosaic come from the same root meaning!
My family and community give meaning to my life. I also love being solitary in my studio. In the quiet, my work helps me to gently connect to being truly present and creative. I enjoy exploring the endless ideas that arise as I play with material possibilities and limits. I am always open to surprises and happy to find the unexpected leading the way. Joy, as well as detailed work is inherent to the mosaic process.
Whether abstract or fanciful, dreamlike or representational, all of my images are visual metaphors. Many of my commissioned mosaic installations are fanciful natural scenes of landscape and animals. But I am constantly inspired to create non-literal designs as well.
Most of my mosaics are weather proof. I primarily work with glass (cutting, fusing, breaking, casting) and ceramics (slab and sculptural). Currently, I am looking forward to having more time to experiment with glass casting which enables a simplicity to my relief and sculptural forms.
My mosaic work can be seen at the Albuquerque Zoo as well as the Albuquerque Botanic Garden’s Dragonfly Sanctuary. If you travel to Oklahoma, you can view a large wall commissioned by the Norman Oklahoma Arts Council at Lions Park. My work can also be seen locally at four Range Cafes, Rust Medical Center Chapel and other businesses, schools, developments and private homes in New Mexico. I co-directed the local, seventy foot long Placitas Community Mosaic mural, Protect Our Wildlife Corridors and am a founding member of Mosaic New Mexico, a collaborative of mosaic artists. I am a founding member of Wild Hearts Gallery. My mosaic work has been included in publications and articles.
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Education:
Laura received a BFA Major in Printmaking from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa. and received the 1974 CMU Printmaking Award. In 1976 she received the NM Arts and Crafts Fair Purchase Award for an etching which was displayed in a 2009 retrospective at the Albuquerque Museum.
Later she received her masters in Education with a Specialty in Environmental Education from Queens College, N.Y. and graduated with Honors.
A Resident of New Mexico since 1975 (except for when studying for her MA in New York) Laura was a teacher from 1985-2003 and founding art teacher of Bosque School, Albuquerque. Her early mosaic experimentation was with many hundreds of student mosaics. Some of the 2002 Student Display of Mosaic Fish at the Outdoor Courtyard of Albuquerque Aquarium and Botanic Gardens Education Center can still be seen!
In 2004 Laura became a full time mosaic artist.
Permanent Mosaic Installations in Public Locations
2019 Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors. Co-artist.
2018 Albuquerque Open Space , Coors. Co-leader of mosaic mandalas-community involvement
2018 Wild Hearts Gallery sign, Placitas, NM.
2017 Range Cafe, Cottonwood location, Albuquerque, NM
2017 Albuquerque Zoo, 2o ft.mosaic. Education Courtyard
2015-2018 Homewise Tessarae Development, Santa Fe, N.M. Approximately 100 Garden flagstones
2016 Norman Oklahoma Arts Council 14’x6’ mosaic with community participation. Lions Park
2015 Range Cafe, Montgomery Blvd. Alb. North room fireplace.
2012 Sandia Preparatory School, Albuquerque N.M.: Donor Recognition Mural, Student Center.
2011-2013 Rust Medical Center, Rio Rancho, N.M.: Chapel mosaics and Garden Tiles.
2011 Albuquerque Botanic Gardens Dragonfly Sanctuary: Mosaic Panel with surround.
2008 -12 Placitas Community Mural, Protect Our Wildlife Corridors. Visionary and co-coordinator of 70 foot long mosaic. Placitas Recycling Center Wall, Placitas, N.M.:
2010 Placitas Community Library: Outdoor Sign
2008 Accion New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Plaque.
2008 The Range Cafe, Montgomery Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M. : Fireplace.
2006 Office of Jennifer Ridgeway, D.D.S., Albuquerque, N.M. : Decorative Mural.
2006 Accion New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Plaque.
2006 Amy Biehl High School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Plaque.
2005 Office of Dr. Jennifer Ridgeway, D.D.S., Albuquerque, N.M. : Decorative Murals.
2005 The Range Cafe., Wyoming Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M. : Decorative Murals.
2004 Sandia Preparatory School, Albuquerque, N.M. : Donor Recognition Mural, Student Center.
2004 The Range Cafe, Menaul Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M. : Interior border design.
2003 The Atomic Grill, Santa Fe, N.M. : Pizza Oven/Fireplace.
2002 The Range Cafe and Lizard Lounge, Bernalillo, N.M.: Fireplace.
2001 Bosque School, Albuquerque, N.M. : Donor Recognition Mural, Peggy Findlay Fine Arts Center.
2001 Bosque School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Mural, Gerald and Betty Ford Library.
2000 Bosque School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Mural, 23 Acre Club. Administration Building.
PRIVATE HOMES More than 50 individuals have commissioned mosaics for their homes since 2002. Also 100 Garden flagstones ordered by Homewise / Tessarae Development, Santa Fe, N.M.2015-2019. Many mosaic pieces purchased by individuals and in private collections.
Awards
2012 Juror Recognition Award Glass Alliance New Mexico and Mill Fine Art, Santa Fe.
2011 Globalquerque Music Festival Poster Art
2007 Award: Originals 2007 Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
New Mexico Women in the Arts/ National Museum of Women in the Arts
2007 Las Placitas Association Hall of Fame in recognition of outstanding service to the Community
2002 Award: Best In Show, New Mexico Potters Association, Harwood Art Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Published
2023 Albuquerque Journal. 2/19/23 article by Kathaleen Roberts
2022 March PBS Colores – One of 3 speaking featured mosaic artists
2020. TileLetter/Lesley Goddin
2022 Co-author of A Self-guided tour to Mosaics of Central New Mexico
2013 Green Fire Times June Cover. Bosque Panel of Placitas Community Mosaic Mural. Laura Robbins lead artist-many other artists contributed.
2012 Mosaic Art Today Schiffer Publishing Ltd. (pages 194-199)
2011 The Rio Rancho Observer November 16th
2011 Eclectica on-line literary magazine. November Issue
2011 Local IQ, March 24-April 6 Marquee, (Page 5)
2010 Albuquerque Sunday Journal Arts, December 19th. (Page F1)
2010 Sandoval SignPost. September Featured Artist
2009 Range Cafe Cookbook by Matt DiGreggory and Tom Fenton. (Pages 39, 40.)
2009 June 14th Sunday Arts Albuquerque Journal. Large photo of mosaic backsplash( wrongly attributed to another artist. )(Page 1)
2007 Su Casa Magazine April 2007 (Pages 74-77)
2004 Cover of Blue Mesa Review, Sixteen, UNM Literary Magazine.
2003 Creative Garden Mosaics by Jill Mackay, Lark Books. Page 49.
Recent Shows
February 2023 Fusion Gallery: Piece Offerings. Group Show
2018-2023 Wild Hearts Gallery – founding member of a collaborative gallery of 14 artists, Placitas, New Mexico Featured Artist:
Toward Water. September 2023
With The Sky June 2021
September 2018. Scenes From the Ground
April 2019 Albuquerque Open Space Mosaic New Mexico group show
January 2018 Oasis Group Show Mosaic New Mexico
February 2017 Organizer of Germination, Albuquerque Open Space. Mosaic New Mexico group show.
June 2016 Organizer of Water A Mosaic New Mexico group show. New Grounds, Abq.
January 2016 Matrix Fine Art New Group Show
November 2015 Placitas Artist Series Group Show
March 2015 Museum of Biblical Art Dallas Texas Group Show
May 2015 Placitas Studio Tour
November 2014 Singapore Affordable Art Fair/ represented by Matrix Fine Art
September 2014 Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, N.M.
July-Sept. 2014 Curator and participant of Pieces of the Whole. Albuquerque Open Space Visitor Center GalleryGroup Show
November 2013 Placitas Artist Series, Placitas, NM 3 person show
August 2013 Public Project Silver City Clay Festival- Placitas Community Mosaic. Laura Robbins and Cirrelda Snider-Bryan lead artists.
July 2013 Alluvial – Albuquerque Open Space Gallery Group Show
May 2013 Seeds: A Collective Voice Art Exhibit Group Show
November Placitas Artist Series, NM 2 person show
October 2012 Albuquerque Museum Miniatures and More Group Show
September 2012 Taos Art Glass Invitational Group Show
September 2012 Abstract Show at Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque Group Show
August 2012 New Mexico Contemporary Glass Invitational Mill Fine Art, Santa Fe Group Show
July 2012 Red Boot Gallery Bernalillo, NM Group Show
July 2012 Arte de Placitas Placitas, N.M. Group Show
June 2012 Santa Fe Community Gallery Elements Group Show
April 2012 Albuquerque Museum Shaken Not Stirred Group Show
February 2012 516 Gallery (Alb., NM) New Mexico Showcase Group Show
February 2012 Matrix Fine Art, Alb. N.M. Group Show
October 2011 Albuquerque Museum Miniatures and More Group Show
September 2011 Las Cruces Museum of Art From the Ground Up Group Show
April 2011 Gallery 105 Albuquerque, N.M. 3 Artist Group Show
May 2010/2011/2013 Placitas Studio Tour N.M. Open Studio
November 2010 Gallery 105 Albuquerque, N.M. Group Show
November 2010 Placitas, N.M. Community Library One Person Show
August 2010 Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, N.M. One Person Show
November 2010 Lessedra Gallery, Bulgaria
December 2009 Red Dot Art Fair Miami, Fla. Represented by Matrix Fine Art