Laara WilliamSen,
International Professional Painter
Telephone 1 604 385 0695
EMAIL: laara63@gmail.com
BIOGRAPHY
Laara WilliamSen is a Vancouver, Lower Mainland, British Columbia based visual artist. She grew up in the Lower Fraser Valley of B.C., graduated from Emily Carr College of Art and Design in 1988, and then moved to North Vancouver to continue her painting and to continue her exhibiting both locally and internationally. Her painting career spans more than 35 years and she has had 91 solos and has participated in 136 group exhibitions. Laara WilliamSen’s paintings are held in private collections around the world and she is a recipient of “The top ten international painters” award in the International Artitudes Competition curated by the Museum of Modern Art, Lynn Warren, curator, Chicago, U.S.A., The Fogg Art Museum, Judy Neiswander, Curator, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and The Guild Hall Museum, Helen Harrison, Curator, East Hampton, New York, U.S.A. The exhibition was held at Gallery 54, SoHo, New York, U.S.A.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I like to paint what I sense or feel such as the sound of a stream, the sparkles of light in the green world of nature or the city constructions with hard edges, electric sidewalks and some blazing red sounds. I create my paintings from immediate process based movements drawn from what inspires me. Using a paddle and my fingers, I apply acrylic or oil paints onto the canvas. My intention is that viewers may experience a sense of recognition or create their own stories from my art works.
C.V.
SELECTED EDUCATION
1984 – 1988 EMILY CARR UNIVERSITY OF ART AND DESIGN, Full time, Interdisciplinary Major. Diploma, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2020
ART BOX PROJECTS at the Swiss Art Expo 2020, Switzerland
Artsy.com represented by Art Box Gallery
PALM ART AWARDS NOMINEE 2020, juried international award. December 30, 2020
“Peace” Juried international group exhibition, Personaland, U.S.A.
2019
“What calls the heart,” Juried international group exhibition, MEGA ART, Rome, Italy
“Retrospective – Laara WilliamSen solo” Crescent Park 3rd Floor Gallery. Surrey, B.C. Canada
2018
“Inspired by the Camino,” a group exhibition held at the Dezner Gallery to raise funds for Farmington Valley Arts Center, MI, U.S.A. Nov 3 – 24
Juried group international exhibitions, Gallery Rosso Cinabro, Rome, Italy – April and May = three exhibitions
“Three paths to Creativity,” Ocean Park Library, South Surrey, B.C. CANADA
“RomArt 2017 Biennale International Di Arte E Cultura,” Dr. Michela Bertazzo, juried Rome, Italy Although juried into physical exhibition, I chose to exhibit online in December 2017 to January 2018
2017
“Natures Texture,” juried international exhibition, Still Point Art Gallery, Florida, U.S.A.
“Peace Unites” Peace Project 2017,
“Peace Starts Here,” Peace Project 2014,
“Peace, Love and Understanding,” Peace Project 2013,
“Make Peace,” Peace Project 2012,
“Peace Rises,” Peace Project 2011, all fundraisers for Africa, juried into touring group international exhibitions, sponsored by The Whole 9 Gallery, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
“Diversified Abstractions,” group exhibition, Ocean Park Library, South Surrey, B.C. Canada
“Cirque du Soiree,” juried group Art Auction, Event benefactor: Peace Arch Hospital Foundation – New Hospice Building, White Rock, B.C. Canada
2016
“From the Heart” Solo, Pelican Rouge Café Gallery, Benefactor Peace Arch Hospital, South Surrey, B.C. Canada
“Stars and Beyond” Solo, Ocean Park Library Gallery, South Surrey, B.C. Canada
“The Three Musketeers,” group exhibition, Good Day Sunshine gallery, South Surrey, B.C. Canada
“Picnic,” Ocean Park Library, group exhibition, South Surrey, B.C. Canada
2015
“Moments in Nature” Solo, Babes in the Woods Café Gallery, Galiano Island, B.C., Canada
“Abstract Expression Art Exhibition and Interview” The Carl Benz Cloud University, Germany
“Autumn” Solo, Original oil painting: permanent installation, CHAMPALIMAUD FOUNDATION, Lisbon, Portugal
“Rise Galiano,” group Auction through Green Beautiful Foundation, to support the Borneo Rainforest – event held at Babes in the Woods Café Gallery, Galiano Island, B.C. Canada
“IN3 International Miniature Collective,” juried group international exhibition, Artist representative for Canada, TVAA GALLERY, Plaza of the Americas, 700 Pearl Street, Dallas Texas, U.S.A.
“Twitter Art,” For Home Start fundraiser, International group exhibition, Moss, Norway
and 2013 “Twitter Art Exhibition,” fundraiser, international group exhibition, in support of Street Youth, Exhale Gallery, 953 Chung King Road Los Angles, California, USA
and 2012 “Twitter Art Exhibition,” fundraiser, international group exhibition fundraiser in support of The Women’s Shelter, Moss, Norway
2014
“Rotary Art Auction,” international group fundraiser sponsored by Art Cafe International, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.A. I coordinated this exhibition with Peter Fitzmailer of Florida and I built the Art Café International website for the event. All sale proceeds were given to the Rotary of St. Petersburg.
“Vendel Art Festival,” juried group exhibition, White Rock, B.C., Canada
“Project Smiles,” group international exhibitions, coordinated by Marek Wysoczynski, Biuro Pronocji Kultury, Gdansk, Poland and also in the years 2013, 2012 and 2011
2013
“Small art works” Solo, Good Day Sunshine Café Gallery, South Surrey, B.C., Canada
“Open Studio” Solo, celebration of my completion of 20 paintings; The Elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water while at painting residence at Ozu Cultural Centre, Monteleone, Sabina, near Rome, Italy.
“Memory,” Richmond Art Gallery 2nd Biannual Group International Art Exhibition. 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, B.C. Canada
“The Collage,” Art auction international group fundraiser for Dr. Kevin Kain’s malaria research and treatment in Uganda, at the University of Toronto, 560 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
“United State of International Artists,” juried international group exhibition, Olga Santos galeria, Praca da Republica No 168 frente, Porto, Portugal
2012
“A Casa de Lage,” juried group international painting exhibition curated by Francisco Lacerda, graduate of Sotheby’s curator program, at Pestana Place, Lisbon, Portugal
“Passages,” juried group international painting exhibition curated by Francisco Lacerda, graduate of Sotheby’s curator program. at Hotel Cascais, Miragem, Portugal
“Letters for Feminism,” Donation for International group exhibition, International Art Works, Edmonton, Alberta. Canada
2011
“From Sky to Sea” Solo, juried, Small Rituals Gallery and Society, White Rock, B.C., Canada
“Drawing Connection,” International group exhibition, held in permanent collection, Siena Art Institute, Paul Getty III Foundation, Siena, Italy
“Tikkun Olam Collaborative Grid,” juried international group exhibition, Alta Contemporary Art & Industria Studios, Tucson, Arizona, USA
“Trees for Life,” International group fund raiser exhibition, “Out of the Blue Gallery,” 32-36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, Scotland
“Symbiose,” juried international group exhibition, Zomer-Kunst festival, Breda De Stads Galerij, Oude Vest 34, Breda, Netherlands
“Fiber Fusion International Collaborative Mural,” juried group international exhibition, White Rock Museum and Archives, Donated my art work,White Rock, B.C. Canada.
“Celebrity Auction,” juried group exhibition fundraiser for Semiahmoo Animal League Inc., Surrey, B.C., Canada
“Brooklyn Art Library,” Call for international art – Donated to the Permanent Collection, New York, NY, U.S.A.
“Morgan Crossing Group Exhibition,” Surrey, B.C., Canada and in 2010
2010
“The Armory Exhibition,” group international, Pasadena, California, USA,
“Artists for Freedom,” group international fundraiser to free children from slavery, Galileo Museum, Lennestadt, Germany and a second group international exhibition at The Bensdorf Town Hall, Bensdorf, Germany
“International Contemporary Art,” group international fundraiser for Chelsea College, London, United Kingdom
“Twitter Art & Social Media Group Exhibition,” juried, international group exhibition, at Diane Farris Gallery, West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
SELECTED AWARDS
1989 Top ten international painting award, International Artitudes Competition juried by
Museum of Contemporary Art, Lynn Warren, Curator, Chicago, U.S.A.,
The Fogg Art Museum, Judy Neiswander, Curator, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.,
The Guild Hall Museum, Helen Harrison, Curator, East Hampton, New York, U.S.A. Exhibition was held at Gallery 54, SoHo, New York, U.S.A.
1987 The B.C. Cultural Fund Senior Scholarship Award presented by Jack Shadbolt, Canadian – International painter and Arletta Stevens, Director of the B.C. Cultural Affairs, at Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
1985 B.C. Cultural Fund Senior Scholarship Award presented by Thomas W. Kowall, Chairman, Scholarship Committee, Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Laara WilliamSen’s paintings are held in private collections around the world. For the past 10 years, she has donated countless works of art to charities.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my curriculum vitae.
Sincerely
Laara WilliamSen
International professional painter and educator,
Vancouver area, B.C. CANADA
Telephone 1 604 385 0695
EMAIL: laara63@gmail.com
