Artist on a Mission

Think of a goal you want to achieve. Now imagine that someone says, “No. That’s not the right path for you.” What would you do?  

When Laura Owens, above, was in college, some of her male professors discouraged her from studying abstract painting. They thought women should paint realistic subjects. Later, in graduate school, Owens wanted to paint at a time when many believed the art form was old-fashioned. 

Owens ignored the naysayers. And today, many art critics believe she is one of the most influential artists of her generation. Some even credit her with “saving painting.” 

Can you name a goal you want to achieve? Imagine that someone says, “No. That’s not the right path for you.” What would you do?

When Laura Owens, above, was in college, she wanted to study abstract (simplified) painting. But some of her male professors discouraged her. They thought women should paint realistic art. Many said that painting was too old-fashioned altogether. 

But Owens knew she wanted to paint abstract works. She didn’t listen to the people who told her she shouldn’t. Today, some people believe Owens is one of the most important artists of her generation. Some even say she saved painting as an art form.

Owens was born in 1970 in Euclid, Ohio. From the time she was 14, she was determined to become an artist. She persuaded her father to send her to summer art camp, where she practiced making figure drawings. 

Later, while at art school, she faced sexism from some of her professors. In response, she joined forces with fellow students to develop their own curriculum. Forging her own path in college was the beginning of Owens’s career-long pattern of challenging accepted notions about painting. 

In 1970, Owens was born in Euclid, Ohio. By age 14, she was confident she wanted to be an artist. She convinced her father to send her to summer art camp. There, she practiced making figure drawings.

Later, Owens went to art school. But some of her professors didn’t value female artists as much as male artists. In response, Owens teamed up with fellow students. They developed their own lessons. This was just the first time that Owens challenged outdated ideas about painting.

Creating art that feels familiar yet entirely new is Owens’s hallmark. She says each of her paintings has a “grab bag of places it’s coming from.” She uses a variety of techniques and pulls from many sources, from pop culture and fine art to nature.

At first glance, the figurative imagery in her 2014 work Untitled, 2nd image, suggests a children’s book. But if you look a bit longer, the vertical composition and bold shapes may bring to mind a Japanese landscape painting. Take time to read the cheerful quote and the artwork may suddenly feel like an inspirational poster or greeting card. Despite these different visual references, Owens creates a sense of natural visual unity through her consistent use of line, shape, and color.

She also experiments with materials. In her mixed-media piece Untitled, 2013, above, Owens places bicycle, stroller, go-kart, and other wheels over an abstraction painted on linen. The wheels, which each spin freely, contrast with the repeating grid pattern. She juxtaposes these common shapes in a fresh, unexpected way.

Owens creates art that seems familiar but is totally new. She explains that each of her paintings comes from a “grab bag of places.” She uses different techniques to make her art. She is inspired by many subjects, like pop culture, fine art, and nature.

Her 2014 work Untitled, 2nd image, may look like a children’s book at first. But the vertical composition and bold shapes are similar to a Japanese landscape painting. The cheerful quotes might remind you of an inspirational poster or greeting card. The painting has different visual references. But Owens uses lines, shapes, and colors to create a sense of unity.

She also plays with materials. To make her 2013 Untitled work, above, Owens paints an abstract pattern on linen. She places wheels from a bicycle, stroller, go-kart, and more on top. The wheels spin, and their circular shapes stand out against the grid pattern. These shapes are common. But Owens uses them in a fresh, fun way.