Biography

Laura Kawa is a native of Gilbert, Arizona where she currently resides with her husband of 24 years, her 19 year old son, Aiden, and their 2 pugs, a chug, a yellow lab, and a boxer.  She has a degree in Art Education from Arizona State University and taught art for 14 years, grades 6-12. She is currently working in healthcare technology as a client manager, while still actively creating art during her free time.

Experiences in Laura's life have shaped the artist that she is today.  While struggling with fertility, endometriosis, and fibroids, Laura survived two stillbirths and one miscarriage, resulting in years of emotional trauma and severe obsessive compulsive disorder.  She experienced unhealthy fluctuations in weight, from being severely underweight to developing a binge eating disorder resulting in rapid and extreme weight gain. 

Years later, a hysterectomy became the only option to resolve her reproductive issues.  The hysterectomy plus therapy and medication, finally enabled Laura to begin the healing process.  She recognized that in addition to the joy of being a mother, she is a woman and a strong individual beyond the expectations of motherhood.  She embraced the blessing of having one amazing son and she gained an identity much greater than her pain.

These events that make Laura who she is, are evident in her artwork as she explores what it means to be a woman, fertility, body image, and gender expectations, particularly during our current political and social climate.  Laura explores feminist issues through her drawings, while representing women and the beautiful dichotomy of attributes they represent.  Her drawings show the power that women possess when they come together as one voice. 

Laura looks forward to continuing to explore and expand her Anthropomorphia and Kintsugi Series.  She primarily utilizes graphite drawing pencils and Prismacolor pencils, and has recently introduced gold leaf, as well as embroidery and low relief layering.  These series are living and breathing, and will continue to evolve through the introduction of new media, techniques, and life experiences.  

Art has been extremely therapeutic for Laura and continues to heal her soul.  She explores her journey of finding strength and independence within herself, while maintaining a willingness to welcome support from others.  She hopes that her art will relate and speak to others as well, and that they may find healing, strength, and inspiration through her work.