Artist Profile Lauri Smith
Lauri Smith, Dawn’s Visitors, 2024, Silicone, mohair, gold, resin, foam, glass, 37.4″ x 21.7″ x 18.1″ (950 mm x 550 mm x 460 mm).
Smith’s captivating sculptures blend surrealism with hyperrealism to become transcendent.
Artist Statement
Dawn’s Visitors explores the intricate connection between our waking life and the world of dreams and visions. The bridge between the tangible and the ethereal, and the invisible threads that connect these worlds. This work blends surrealism with hyperrealism, delving into the spiritual connection between the subconscious and dreams.
My process is all handmade, from the initial inspiration to pastel drawings, sculpting in clay, rubber mold making, casting in silicone and resin, airbrushing and hand-painting, followed by hair punching and the final touches.
Artist Biography
Lauri is an artist influenced by hyperrealism, magic realism and surrealism. She is currently residing in the Inner West, Sydney, Australia.
Lauri was born in South Africa and immigrated to Melbourne Australia as a small child where her obsession for Jim Henson’s creatures in the films The Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal influenced her passion for art. She went on to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sydney and then completed a Diploma of Special Effects Make Up and prop making leading to a career in TV, film and fashion. Collectively, all these experiences guided her to establish her own art practice, delving into her sculpture and painting.
Lauri is a multi-award winning artist and has been published and exhibited in solo, group and finalist exhibitions around Australia, Spain, London, New York, and Japan.