BIO/ STATEMENT
Lauren Mantecón is an artist and mentor, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a first-generation Mexican American who grew up moving back and forth between the east and west coasts negotiating displacement, the terrain of identity, and ultimately landing some place in the middle.
Lauren’s life-long studies of metaphysics, psycho-spirituality and fascination with the inexplicable mysteries of life currently inform her work. Symbols of veils, mists, orbs, black holes, sting-like pearls, abstracted landscapes, and ghost vessels are her leitmotifs.
Lauren’s focus throughout her career has been navigating the crossing points between earth and spirit in a multi-dimensional universe to gain a deeper sense of belonging. Her influences are fragments of dreams, psychic sensibilities, visions, and a desire to bring an omnipresent force into form. Lauren’s work follows the philosophies of 19th Century Romanticism and The Transcendentalists; specifically, their deep reverence for nature and spirituality supporting practices of self-reflection and personal insight.
Over the course of her career, Lauren has presented 21 solo shows. She has also participated in 31 group exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the United States and Mexico. She has exhibited at Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland Oregon; Nuart Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Gebert Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, among others. She is the recipient of The Lillian Orlowsky and William Freed Grant. Lauren has completed the following art residencies: Jentel Foundation, Banner, Wyoming; Djerassi Resident Artist Program, Woodside, California; and The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, Taos, New Mexico; and The Santa Fe Art Institute, New Mexico.
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Photo: Jennifer Esperanza