Hello!

Laurel Stewart (b. 1997, Flemington, New Jersey) graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, MD with a BFA in General Fine Arts and a Minor in Painting (2021). Using her natural environment as inspiration and source for materials, Laurel creates paintings that highlight the aspects of nature we tend to overlook. Abundant rocks, plants that grow from cracks in the sidewalk, and seasonal foliage are respectfully foraged to be showcased as art and used as a tool to educate others of the ecosystem in which they live and take part in.

In addition to her own studio practice, Laurel has been active in community arts since moving to Baltimore in 2018. She currently works for public artist Whitney Frazier assisting on large-scale murals and ongoing public art initiatives that aim to uplift and give a platform to marginalized voices across Baltimore and Maryland. She also volunteers at a local recreation center teaching art classes to adults with disabilities.

Laurel’s work has been exhibited at various spaces including Phoenix Art Yard (Baltimore, MD), Raritan Valley Community College (Branchburg, NJ), Metallo Gallery (Madrid, NM), RAW Natural Born Artists, Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD), and ArtJam Homefront (Princeton, NJ). She has completed private commissions including four paintings in the permanent collection at Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Remington (Baltimore, MD). Laurel has also co-produced and filmed an online course focused on mixed-media experimentation.

Education

2021 BFA in General Fine Arts, Minor in Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

2018     Raritan Valley Community College, Fine Arts Program, Branchburg, NJ

Grants/Awards

2020    France-Merrick Fellowship, Baltimore, MD

   Creative Entrepreneurship Internship Fellowship, Baltimore, MD

2019     France-Merrick Fellowship, Baltimore, MD

2019    Maryland Institute College of Art Competitive Scholarship, Baltimore, MD

2018 Maryland Institute College of Art Merit-Based Transfer Scholarship, Baltimore, MD

Exhibitions

2021 From The Ashes—MICA Senior Exhibition, Baltimore, MD

Art at the Barn, Hellertown, PA

2020    Collective Unconscious, Baltimore, MD 

2019    MICA Art Market, Baltimore, MD 

MICA Juried Undergraduate Show, Baltimore, MD

Fox 2 Exhibition for Reaccreditation, MICA, Baltimore, MD

ArtJam Home Front, Princeton, NJ

RAW Natural Born Artists: REFLECT, Baltimore, MD

2018    Untitled Half-Circle Variety Show, Baltimore, MD

    Annual Miniature Show, Metallo Gallery - Madrid, NM

    CUT artisan. hair. design. Gallery - Flemington, NJ

    RVCC Student Art Exhibition - Branchburg, NJ

2017   RVCC Juried Student Art Exhibition - Branchburg, NJ - Fall 2017

Commissions

2020    Private Commission, Flemington, NJ 

2019    Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Remington, Baltimore, MD

Private Commission, Sunnyside, NY 

Collections

Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Remington, Baltimore, MD

Teaching Experience

2017-2018 Prestige Dance Academy, choreographer, Flemington, NJ