Mind into Matter: the abstract expressionism of Laura Gray

A 22-year-old abstract expressionist artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Laura Gray's work explores the physical and emotional connection an artist has with their canvas; the idea of becoming "lost in the act of painting".

'Ameliorate', 2016

'Ameliorate', 2016

"Each piece acts as a representation of my mind at that moment," she explains. "I don't plan what to paint, instead the painting takes on an organic life of its own, turning otherwise incoherent thoughts into something tangible."

Gray paints with a range of mediums and tools, including found materials such as sticks and feathers, and allows the movement of dyes and sprays to manipulate the result of each piece. Her overarching aim is to use colour, texture and tone to evoke emotions, by focusing on the juxtaposition between light and dark.

Most strikingly, there's appearance of fluidity and depth that plays on our minds' ability to weave recognisable form and structure out of chaos, and the effects of this can be quite bewitching.

'Ruminate', 2016

'Ruminate', 2016

'Nocturne', 2017

'Nocturne', 2017

'Gullfoss', 2017, Acrylic and digital manipulation, 2017

'Gullfoss', 2017, Acrylic and digital manipulation, 2017

'Pink skies' 2017, 122cm x 92cm. Acrylic on canvas

'Pink skies' 2017, 122cm x 92cm. Acrylic on canvas

'No-ana', 2017

'No-ana', 2017

'Yoni' 2017 100cm x 100cm Mixed media on canvas

'Yoni' 2017 100cm x 100cm Mixed media on canvas

'Belladonna' 2017 122cm x 92cm Mixed media on canvas

'Belladonna' 2017 122cm x 92cm Mixed media on canvas

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