Nancy Staub Laughlin began her career with a BFA degree from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, she has exhibited at different galleries and museums throughout the East Coast. One of her most memorable moments came when Sam Hunter, an esteemed art critic and historian of modern and contemporary art, reviewed her work, calling it “refreshingly unique.” Laughlin’s approach to drawing is both different and passionate, with her vision remaining consistent throughout her career. Despite evolving over time, her style remains unmistakable, allowing viewers to instantly recognize her work. Laughlin’s pieces often explore the interplay between light, color, and dimension, creating a deeply immersive experience for those who encounter her art.
In The Elegance of the Storm (32 x 45, pastel on paper and mounted photographs), Laughlin creates a mesmerizing world where light and color collide in a dazzling dance. The viewer is drawn into the piece, experiencing the flurry of precipitation as if standing in the middle of the storm itself. The swirling of snow and wind adds a sense of movement and life, while the composition maintains an underlying elegance that speaks to the beauty found in even the most chaotic of natural events. The piece’s glowing elements—enhanced by her skillful use of pastels—create a radiant quality, where the storm is not merely something to endure but something to appreciate and revel in. The viewer is left not with a sense of destruction but with a deeper understanding of nature’s brilliance.
In The Dazzling of Spring (41 x 60, pastel on paper and mounted photograph), Laughlin turns her attention to the serenity and vibrancy of spring. The viewer is immediately captivated by the burst of colors, resembling sparkling gems that adorn the scene. The flowers in bloom seem to shimmer, inviting the viewer into her brilliantly illuminated world. There is a lightness to this work, as though the air is filled with the energy and renewal that spring often brings. The pastel technique used here enhances the soft, gentle nature of the scene while simultaneously intensifying the vibrant colors, creating a rich contrast that keeps the viewer engaged. Spring is not just a season in this work; it is a radiant, almost ethereal experience.
The Phenomenon of the Spring Snow (28 x 36, pastel on paper, mounted photographs) captures a fleeting and rare moment—a spring flurry with trees in full bloom. The piece’s uniqueness lies in the juxtaposition of the blooming flowers, which signify life and warmth, with the unexpected presence of snow, symbolizing a lingering cold. Laughlin’s intent here is to captivate and hold the viewer’s gaze, drawing them deeper into the scene. There is a sense of delicate beauty in the contrast between the snow and the blossoms, both vying for attention. The viewer is left with an appreciation for this rare combination, an intersection of two opposing forces that briefly coexist. The soft texture of the pastels reinforces the fragility of the moment, as if the scene could vanish with the next gust of wind.
What ties all of these works together is Laughlin’s ability to create immersive environments that invite viewers into her world. Each piece offers more than just a visual experience; they are windows into the delicate balance between nature’s chaos and its beauty. Her use of pastels, combined with the mounted photographs, adds layers of dimension that heighten the sense of being present within the scene. The play between light and color is at the heart of her work, providing a sense of movement and life that keeps the viewer engaged long after they’ve moved on from the piece.
Laughlin’s works are consistent in their ability to evoke emotion and wonder. Whether she is capturing the elegance of a storm or the gentle beauty of spring, her signature style remains clear. There is an undeniable energy to her pieces, one that pulls viewers into the moment and allows them to experience the world through her eyes. It’s this combination of technique, vision, and passion that makes her work so memorable, offering a refreshing and unique perspective on the world around us.
