Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Husar Garcia.
Laura, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born into a family of storytellers. At age 7, I brought my camera on adventures alongside my father, who was a writer. On Sunday mornings I spun the family globe and wherever my finger landed, that was the Chicago ethnic neighborhood we explored for the day. My father wrote stories about the people we met, and I made photographs with my Kodak Instamatic, telling stories with my camera. My passion for visual storytelling led to a career as a photographer.
I worked as a documentary photographer and photojournalist in Santa Fe, NM for 10 years, and covered the incredible arts community there, with two years between that chapter living and working for extended periods in Mexico, Ecuador and the Czech Republic. I’ve photographed everything from gypsies in Prague, pregnant teens in Quito, The Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II, Pueblo Indian elders and Dia de los Muertos in the outskirts of Oaxaca. My foundation as an artist took root before moving to Chicago where I became a photo editor at The Chicago Tribune. During that time I also worked on a year-long long-term documentary project about retired nuns, which was exhibited in the Polish Museum of America. After co-winning a grant to fund the project, I knew I had a window of opportunity to focus on my art in a much more meaningful way. It was then I made a dramatic life switch to the next rung of my life ladder, more fully embracing the artist that was deep within me.
The transition to fine art was a natural one, and I’ve been calling myself an artist since 2002, when my first museum exhibit took place. Since then my work has been exhibited widely, including The Barcelona Foto Biennial, The Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography in Prague, Fotofever at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France, The Polish Museum of America in Chicago, Fotofest Biennial in Houston, Texas, Photo Independent in Los Angeles, California, The Rangefinder Gallery in Chicago, Tilt Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, among others.
I live in the Chicago area with my husband Alex, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, my two children and my yellow lab, Blue. Together we own a media production business called Three Story Media, where I’m Creative Director.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work investigates the study of wonder, hope and endurance of the human spirit during today’s trying times. I use traditional historical photographic processes, both large and small format photography, toy cameras and digital cameras. I deeply love the mystery of photography, not knowing how an image will truly turn out until the negatives are developed. I’m old-school by nature, but I also work digitally, and my more recent work explores color and more modern ways of displaying work, which looks fabulous in interiors. It’s fun to try on different creative hats when making art, and depending on the feeling I’m yearning to evoke, that reflects which type of camera I use to help me achieve a certain look. Over the years I’ve learned to listen to my inner whispers (or sometimes loud shouts!) that point me towards my next project. More recently I’ve stayed close to home, as I’ve fully embraced motherhood. One of my deepest wishes is that my art will bring gentle pause of wonder those that view it.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I’ve found the Chicago arts community to be a wonderful, vibrant place for artists. I’m most grateful for the incredible women from active collectives who have helped me along the way. Feedback, encouragement and deep friendships have been crucial to my creative life, and I love to pay it forward to others, as well. I think Chicago has a deep need for more arts coverage, however, especially among the major news outlets, so more people know about the artists and their work.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I exhibit my work in galleries and museums, both nationally and internationally. My upcoming exhibits are listed on my website and Instagram page.
My photographs have been published in several books, including “America At Home: A Close-up Look at How We Live”, which is one of the largest collaborative photography projects in publishing history. My photographs have also been published in The New York Times and Newsweek, Slate Magazine and several other publications.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.husargarcia.com
- Email: laura@husargarcia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura_husargarcia/
- Facebook: Laura Husar Garcia
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/husargarcia
Image Credit:
1. This Too Will Pass
2. Now I Remember
3. Wishes
4. Courage, Dear Heart
5. Boyhood
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
