Laura Shabazz

Laura Shabazz
Bernardsville, New Jersey, USA

STATEMENT

Although my only medium is torn paper from old, unwanted books and magazines, I think like a painter. Juxtaposition of materials is key to create the painterly effect I’m after, but there is no actual paint, ink, or digital manipulation–just paper and glue; the only hues come from the paper itself. Each piece starts with a loose concept and a set of reference images. I never know exactly what magazines I will have to work with, so color placement and detail evolve in real time as the piece takes shape. My work is a reflection of the process of reconstruction—of the world around me and my internal landscape. Each piece is a testament to the beauty of rebuilding and the power of finding new forms in what has been broken or discarded. It is an ongoing exploration of how we can piece together our lives and our environments, both artistically and emotionally.

BIO

Laura Shabazz is an award-winning artist working with rescued books and salvaged magazines. Raised in a family deeply rooted in music and visual arts, she was immersed in creativity from a young age, and her artistic practice spanned music, teaching, and songwriting, as well as pottery and various other fine art media before landing on collage. Laura’s collage work is characterized by a dedication to environmental and economic sustainability, working solely with salvaged paper and glue. She collects materials from recycling bins, using the natural yellowing of the book pages and vibrant pictures in magazines as her palette. Each collage is an improvisational exploration of color, texture, and form, with no paint or digital manipulation involved. Her works are one-of-a-kind, evolving in real time as she adjusts to the materials at hand. Laura’s practice is deeply rooted in the idea of reconstruction—both of the external world and of herself. Her work is a reflection of her ongoing journey of rebuilding, creating meaning from what has been broken, discarded, or overlooked. She lives and works in New Jersey with her husband and daughter, constantly seeking new ways to bring creativity into everyday life.

ARTIST CONTACT

EMAIL | WEBSITE

IMAGES