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Laura Pollak

Pastel 20 x 16

EMERALDS by Laura Pollak was awarded the BoldBrush Award for Abstract in the July 2019 BoldBrush Painting Competition.

Biography

Laura Pollak was born in Detroit Michigan and has always had an affinity to the arts; studying ballet, piano and art.  Her Master of Arts from Michigan State University and post graduate work at Center for Creative Studies included many painting classes as well as Graphic Design.

The latter led her to a career in Advertising at some of the largest Agencies in the world on clients as Sears, Nortel, Kraft, Kodak and General Motors.

Laura and her husband moved to North Carolina in 1985 and she started her own successful ad agency with clients around the State and Northeast.

Painting became her main career 10 years ago and she is now a full time professional artist.

Laura has put on 6 Solo Exhibits and has won awards in several venues.

Her works are in International Juried Shows and Galleries and Museums across the nation.

Recently, she won the top award in the International Bold Brush Award in Abstracts sponsored by Fine Art Studios Online.  Pollak won First Place in the Pastel Society of North Carolina's Statewide Show as well as acclaim in the very prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies and the Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Shows [with a published article] and the Pastel Society of America In NYC.  In November of 2019, her work will be published in the Hardcover book of STROKES OF GENIUS, available worldwide.

“I can remember the greatest gift my parents gave me at the age of 4 was the Crayola Crayon set of 72 colors! I have been enthralled with color ever since. I’m fascinated with light and shadow patterns.   I try to imbue all my paintings [whether abstract or representational] with a  source of light to make them glow from within.  I often say that these paintings are like good works of fiction; bits of reality infused with imagination.   Where you the viewer will finish the story."

Much of her inspiration comes from travel and especially from scuba diving. 

'During our travels we like to be active.  Sitting on the beach is not for us.  Scuba Diving allows us to experience a whole new world... seen from underneath!   And Hubby and I love bicycle riding and have taken trips with cycling groups in Sicily, Japan, Napa and the Outer Banks.  I'm often the last one in for the day because I stop to take pictures at every corner.  [ask me about a story in Japan]   It is total eye candy and so exciting!   I have endless resources for new paintings.   I just need more hours in the day. '

Laura teaches workshops around the country and weekly classes and summer workshops in her Greensboro, NC Studio.  She also gladly accepts commissions.

• 2019- Juried into the STROKES OF GENIUS Publication/Bound Book, November 
• 2019- Winner of top award in Abstracts in the Bold Brush International Art Competition sponsored by Fine Art Studio Online 
• 2019- Honorable Mention in the Southeastern Pastel Society International Show
• 2019- Juried into the International Association of Pastel Societies Show in Albuquerque NM
• 2019- Merit Award in the Left Coast Pastel Society
• 2018- First Place in the Statewide NC Pastel Show
• 2018- Solo Exhibit, Greensboro, NC
• 2018- Juried into the Degas Pastel Show in New Orleans
• 2018- Governor’s Award from the Maryland Pastel Society
• 2018- Juried into the International Association of Pastel Societies Show in Tacoma WA
• 2017- Second Place in the Statewide NC Pastel Show curated by director of NC Museum
• 2017- Juried into the Richeson International Small Works Show and published
• 2017- North Ridge Juried Show, Raleigh
• 2017- Solo Exhibit, Greensboro, NC
• 2017- Cecil Byrne,  Juried Show, Charleston SC
• 2017- Pastel Journal, published article / interview
• 2016- Greenhill Gallery Invitational Winter Show
• 2016- Pastel Journal, Pastel 100, Third Place Award
• 2016- Uart Juried International Show
• 2016- Solo Exhibit, Greensboro, NC
• 2016- International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Show
• 2015- Richeson International Juried Show
• 2015- Uart Juried International Show
• 2015- Solo Exhibit, Greensboro, NC
• 2015- North Carolina Statewide Show, Ampersand Award
• 2015- Pastel Society of the West Coast, Manley A. & Hazel K. Harmon Memorial Award
• 2014- Solo Exhibit, Greensboro, NC
• 2014- North Carolina Statewide Show, Charlotte NC
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Learn More About Laura Pollak