Laurel Smith's Ornaminimalism Paintings
Smith's 'Ornaminimalism' arises from the artist's longstanding interest in examining the impact of privileged classes on style and taste. The excessiveness of form that was the hallmark of ornament during the Rococo period in France and late Qing dynasty in China is combined with 20C Minimal art's attention to all over surface. The scrollwork detail at the paintings' edges activates the wall as an additional ornate element. Smith's hybrids are inspired by design motifs found in the imperial courts of King Louis XV and more recently, the Dowager Empress Cixi. Smith states, "The paintings reflect my view of contemporary society's excessive consumer culture, which contradicts a desire for the simple."
Laurel Smith received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction from the Alberta College of Art + Design, her Masters of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the University of Calgary's Faculty of Education. She was selected as one of 22 artists for the Alberta Biennial Exhibition Living Utopia and Disaster and chosen as the Eastern Canada Winner of the Royal Bank Canadian Art Foundation's 6th annual painting competition. Smith's paintings are included in numerous public and private collections.
