Laura Klopfenstein glacier golf
glacier golf collage, acrylic on paper 9 x 12 inches 2023
Austin-based artist Laura Klopfenstein’s work explores the absurdity of commercialization and commodification in the modern world. Through a lens of biology and the sciences, Klopfenstein’s work addresses climate change, over-consumption and a world out of balance through darkly humorous and quirky narratives, inviting the viewer in to explore and define.
Artist Statement
The “American Dream” is a bizarre concept. Some are evolving and progressive, some are stuck in a dark past and celebrate ignorance. Yet we share custody of our physical, emotional and spiritual space, and have major problems to solve.
As we all know, mothers worry. I feel a maternal sense of protectiveness for the earth and people of all ages, all walks of life. I like to create imagery that is rooted in the natural world and summoned from my imagination. It is a celebration of beauty and a reminder of our responsibility as a species with the gift of forethought.
Works are informed by concepts of stewardship, activism, playfulness, and awe. Some art works are more personal and touch on the push-pull energy of social roles that are both depleting and inspiring: being a woman in the US and a mother. I like soft and hard, pretty and ugly, together. My artistic process is guided by layering, the physical qualities of textures, forms and colors, storytelling, and humor.
I like to use symbols to explore ideas: human teeth, fingernails, fishing lures, cacti and oceanic organisms. For example, I include teeth because as humans, we all have teeth no matter what we look like and they are a shared connection. Other works also use fishing lures. I think they look like little people, ghosts when together, non-thinking masses with a permanent expression of confusion, apathy. And I combine them with flora and fauna – to share space with the fishing lure “people”, all linked together.
Other ongoing series explore labor roles, the beauty/fashion industry, climate change, environment, disposable culture and socioeconomic imbalance. In my practice, I use a variety of media on paper and canvas: acrylics, gouache, graphite, Austin tap water, magazines, encyclopedias, ink and secret tools.
Biography
I grew up in Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas, spending a lot of time in nature. I am a mother of two young adults - they inspire, teach and remind me to be in the moment. Somewhere along the line I created my own systems to have an art practice while parenting and working full time. I love to laugh and make things, and help people on their journey however I can. Most days, I have a twinkle in my eyes.
Laura Klopfenstein glacier golf
glacier golf collage, acrylic on paper 9 x 12 inches 2023
Austin-based artist Laura Klopfenstein’s work explores the absurdity of commercialization and commodification in the modern world. Through a lens of biology and the sciences, Klopfenstein’s work addresses climate change, over-consumption and a world out of balance through darkly humorous and quirky narratives, inviting the viewer in to explore and define.
Artist Statement
The “American Dream” is a bizarre concept. Some are evolving and progressive, some are stuck in a dark past and celebrate ignorance. Yet we share custody of our physical, emotional and spiritual space, and have major problems to solve.
As we all know, mothers worry. I feel a maternal sense of protectiveness for the earth and people of all ages, all walks of life. I like to create imagery that is rooted in the natural world and summoned from my imagination. It is a celebration of beauty and a reminder of our responsibility as a species with the gift of forethought.
Works are informed by concepts of stewardship, activism, playfulness, and awe. Some art works are more personal and touch on the push-pull energy of social roles that are both depleting and inspiring: being a woman in the US and a mother. I like soft and hard, pretty and ugly, together. My artistic process is guided by layering, the physical qualities of textures, forms and colors, storytelling, and humor.
I like to use symbols to explore ideas: human teeth, fingernails, fishing lures, cacti and oceanic organisms. For example, I include teeth because as humans, we all have teeth no matter what we look like and they are a shared connection. Other works also use fishing lures. I think they look like little people, ghosts when together, non-thinking masses with a permanent expression of confusion, apathy. And I combine them with flora and fauna – to share space with the fishing lure “people”, all linked together.
Other ongoing series explore labor roles, the beauty/fashion industry, climate change, environment, disposable culture and socioeconomic imbalance. In my practice, I use a variety of media on paper and canvas: acrylics, gouache, graphite, Austin tap water, magazines, encyclopedias, ink and secret tools.
Biography
I grew up in Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas, spending a lot of time in nature. I am a mother of two young adults - they inspire, teach and remind me to be in the moment. Somewhere along the line I created my own systems to have an art practice while parenting and working full time. I love to laugh and make things, and help people on their journey however I can. Most days, I have a twinkle in my eyes.