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On Thursday the 8th of July, I was invited to attend the opening event for ‘THE POWER OF COMMUNITY Back To Gatherings: Hope, Success & Beauty’ by contemporary artist Maria Colom. The evening took place via Zoom, but as an outsider from this network of artists I was surprised by how flawlessly the event proceeded. Not a single technical difficulties or unwanted connection issue. The event was hosted by Laura Iosifescu, owner of the multi-award-winning Laura I. Art Gallery CIC and featured multi-award winning guest speaker Hannah Kupoluyi, founder of All Women’s Network. Colom’s work concentrates on the topic of community with feelings of isolation, disconnection, and of our urgency to get back to sociality; it depicts our reflective of the society we are leaving, a reminder of the countless stories and experiences. The showcase was presented in the form of a virtual gallery split into two rooms each containing a series of works. The first room contained 8 paintings which explored the concept of celebration, using medal colours and figures in various positions. The titles are a imaginative play on words using sportsmanship idioms, elaborating on the theme of “doing our best”. The second room consisted of 10 paintings which make up a series titled ‘Touch Wood’. Unlike the first room where the colour palette created positive feelings which paired with the themes and was dominant over the figures, all the works in this room are unified by being created with wood. Wood becomes the protagonist, leaving the figures in this series to communicate in a more subtle manner using mediums such as stain, oil and varnish to define character. After being walked through the virtual gallery, Colom passed over to the evening’s guest speaker, Hannah Kupoluyi. She commended Colom’s show and the individual paintings, before speaking about her moving work supporting women in her community. The poignance of the evening set in as she listed her methods of being able to support others. She expressed that we need to empower and collaborate, and this is the season to “let go of procrastination, we can all create a positive impact in our community using the talent, skills, and visions we all hold”. Overall, the evening proved well-received, and with the intimate nature of the event amplified by being online, Colom and the audience were able to communicate dynamically. This evidenced by the clear engagement from the audience firing questions in the chat for Colom to answer after presenting each room. The conversation between audience and artist created a unique outlook on the work as themes and concepts were discussed with a rhythmic flow and energy. After a successful night, Laura ended the night stating this was the gallery’s last solo exhibition of the year, an exhibition I am very pleased to have been invited to and I would absolutely recommend checking out Colom’s show on the Laura I. Art Gallery CIC website and subscribing to the newsletter to receive information about upcoming events and news about the community. Jack Digby 
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Last Tuesday March 16th, I had the pleasure to attend the exhibition opening ‘To be a Womxn’, by the contemporary London-based artist Minerva Amiss. The event took place online via Zoom and it was presented by the Laura I. Art Gallery CIC. The topic was ‘Art, Invisible Pain and Feminism’, which should have been part of the exhibition opening in person, but Covid19 times have taught us all to be adaptable and to thrive alternatively. Laura Iosifescu, owner of the Multi-Award Winning Laura I. Art Gallery CIC, is living proof of this adaptability. She sailed the dangerous waters of online perils, and delivered a popular yet safe event. Her passion paired with effective planning, also resulted in an infectious enthusiasm which fuelled the conversation among the attendees. Minerva’s artworks tell a story that is both intimate but also shared by millions. The series presented were a collection of resin sculptures which included items related to periods, the pink tax, birth control and contraception. The timing for her solo exhibition could not have been more suited. The International Women’s Day celebrations were tainted this year by the Sarah Everard murder news in the UK, a painful reminder of how much still needs to be done. The unfolding events at her vigil and the subsequent conversation in the media about womxn experiences, do not only concern violence and safety, but other detrimental life aspects too. The online event had the rewarding presence of very special guests including Sanchia Alasia, former Mayor of Barking and Dagenham and Wumi Oyewole, multi-award winning beauty entrepreneur and author, and other represented artists by the Laura I Gallery. Laura acted as a magnificent host, in control of every detail, and ensuring that all participants had their voices heard. The level of engagement was very positive and paced to the presentation of each artwork by the artist. The issues raised by each piece were unique, and inspired the spectators to share their views, adding to the vital feminist dialogue of our times. The totality of the talk spoke to me personally too, a woman in my thirties who has had to grow and explore these matters very often alone and in the darkness due to the unfair shame placed upon them by our societies. I am very grateful to Minerva for creating this very necessary art, to Laura for creating the space for these conversations to happen, and to all the fantastic and knowledgeable women who participated and added so much value. I would like to note here the high number of male guests, who humbly and respectfully listened and showed interest and support for the inequalities that womxn experience, resurfaced skilfully by Minerva’s art. I dearly recommend subscribing to the Laura I. Art Gallery CIC newsletter, where all the information about many admirable events such as this is made available. If you care for current affairs, contemporary art and a beautiful community, this is the place to be. Review by Isabel Fernandez Abril, art librarian and blogger. Every month we are selecting really cool and talented artists to introduce to our supporters and art collectors. Interview with Sarah Hill. 1. What is your name and where are you based? Sarah Hill, based in north London, N4 2. What is your practice? Drawing and creating greeting cards 3. What is your USP? Monochrome, abstract, unusual artwork 4. Tells us a secret that nobody knows about your life! I once had a job interview in a funeral parlour and had to touch a dead persons hand to see if I was comfortable about being in that environment! 5. Has Covid 19 challenged your creativity? Yes and I have had ups and downs! 6. What are your most significant achievements? Completing an MA in Fine Art, and receiving an award at the end of that. Most recently I have completed some AAT Accounting qualifications which is out of my comfort zone because i hate maths! 7. Whom will your clients be and what will they get from you? My clients will be everyday public who are looking for a unique and attractive card 8. Do you have any fascinating or unusual clients or a funny story to tell? I dont have clients yet really! 9. If you were starting a career as an artist today, what would you do differently? Im not sure, maybe have more confidence and go for things more! 10. What has been your most significant challenge in times of Covid 19, and how did you overcome it? Not being able to see friends and family, being stuck indoors when i am used to going out everyday, not being able to go to my studio etc. 11. What are your plans for the future? What new projects do you have in the pipeline? I have my greeting cards in one shop so far in Finsbury Park, London and hope to expand to other merchandising such as bags, mugs, keyrings etc. 12. What would you like to be known for? Unique monochrome designs 13. How do you know Laura? Through mentoring and exhibitions that Laura has organised. 14. How did you hear about Laura I. Gallery? Through social media a few years or so back! 15. What do you think of our Mentoring programs or of the newest initiative for artists, The Society of Gold Minds? I have had mentoring sessions and they were very helpful and uplifting! 16. Do you think it is important to have someone that has your back? Yes! 17. Do you think it is important to receive constant support? Why? Yes support, and some time in-between to make progress and take actions or await results. 18. Do you think it is important to be surrounded by a community of artists? Yes for sure. 19. Would you recommend our mentoring programs? Yes I have done, to Laura symes who attended. 20. Has Laura I. Gallery inspired you or helped you in any way? How? Yes personally, socially, professionally! 21. Would you recommend Laura I. Art Gallery? Yes definitely! Click here to see Sarah`s works of art  1. What is your name and where are you based? Anna-Maria Amato SE London 2. What is your practice? Fine Artist/Painter 3. What is your USP? I paint dancers in action with spirit. I suffered a break down in my late teens, before, I felt, I had found what kind of adult I wanted to be. I felt lost, and the sense of achievement art had given me, gave me some kind of purpose in my life. I realised I decide how I feel and that is what I can paint. I wish one canvas to take my audience through positive emotions which they can hold onto. 4. Tells us a secret that nobody knows about your life! I wish I could dance well and I have been practising. 5. Has Covid 19 challenged your creativity? It has increased the confidence in my resilience which has left me feeling better prepared for future hurdles. 6. What are your most significant achievements? I curate a gallery founded in a social inclusion project, engaging members of the local community and beyond, in art and culture. 7. Whom will your clients be and what will they get from you? People who feel that they are lacking inspiration but are seeking it. 8. Do you have any fascinating or unusual clients or a funny story to tell? I was selling on a stall in my local library when the major of the borough came and looked at my fairy nudes and asked 'is this inspired my the area?' 9. If you were starting a career as an artist today, what would you do differently? Structure an artwork part of my day around creating. 10. What has been your most significant challenge in times of Covid 19, and how did you overcome it? Lack of face to face contact with people left me seeking ways to feel connected by engaging online and solidifying friendships via other forms of communication. 11. What are your plans for the future? What new projects do you have in the pipeline? I plan to morph my current style with techniques used by the old masters to create an exciting blend of classical passion and modern excitement. 12. What would you like to be known for? Inspiring people to engage with and enjoy creativity. 13. How do you know Laura? I had a mentoring session with her. 14. How did you hear about Laura I. Gallery? Through various online avenues. 15. What do you think of our Mentoring programs or of the newest initiative for artists, The Society of Gold Minds? The mentoring dispelled the sense that I was painting for myself and that I have a story to tell which can bring me closer to people. 16. Do you think it is important to have someone that has your back? Yes. Supportive words have such power and the need to cultivate confidence is a game changer. 17. Do you think it is important to receive constant support? Why? It is helpful to know that there is someone to bounce ideas off and seek out specific pieces of knowledge when questions arise. 18. Do you think it is important to be surrounded by a community of artists? I believe it is said 'you are who you spend your time with' because your influences and inspiration are important in developing yourself and your work. 19. Would you recommend our mentoring programs? Yes. 20. Has Laura I. Gallery inspired you or helped you in any way? How? It has given me direction I was searching for and Laura's story in itself was inspiring and motivating for me. 21. Would you recommend Laura I. Art Gallery? Yes To see Anna- Maria`s artwork please click here:  COVID 19 has affected many industries and the government has put in place good strategies to help those in need. The only ones that have been left behind are artists who have no track on getting public funds and they are left behind. The same artists who have put other people before them, invested their own time, talent and money to make a difference every day in their communities without asking anything in return. Artists who maybe never sold an art piece but they have constantly been investing in their art with the hope to inspire one day a generation of people to think beyond their imagination, a great factor in our opinion that instigates the advancement of technology, science and architecture today. We have decided to recognise those artists and we have put together a programme that highlights the work these artists do. Through amazing interviews, you will have the chance to get to know them and why not support their journey by purchasing one or all of their magical art. This week we`re featuring a very talented artist, Sequin Kay, who we had the pleasure to work with and sell her art through our projects. Sequin is a member of the Gold Mind Society and a big supporter of the gallery. As we reward loyalty and devotion, we wanted to promote her amazing work. What is your name and where are you based? My name is Sequin Kay and I have a mixed media creative practice. I am based in Peacehaven UK. What is your practice? My work for the past 15 years has used revealing aspects of history, which have a profound impact on our contemporary culture today. In the current climate where many believe history has no relevance, I find myself continually returning to those aspects that are often hidden or misrepresented in the “official” recordings for posterity. In my varied and diverse approaches to making art; installations; public, curatorial and web projects, the context of the work has an impact on the work’s relationship to the viewer. What is your USP? Sequin Kay was born and raised in the multicultural edges of South London and has been creating and crafting since she was 11 years old. Her fist commission was at the age of 14, her school commissioning a large-scale mosaic for the outside of the library entrance still on display today. Mistaken identity and cultural displacement are particular elements present in her work with traces of her Irish and Moroccan heritage are repeatedly woven into her textile art-works through the use of abstraction, pattern, embroidery and embellishment. Originally trained as an abstract oil painter and sculptor at Camberwell College of Arts, she found the arts education system rigid and often stifling for developing her subjective style of creativity. Renting out a studio in Brixton and exploring the creative process in solitude she self-taught herself many of the techniques visible today her present work Tells us a secret that nobody knows about your life! Sequins are an intergalactic source of life intelligence. Has Covid 19 challenged your creativity? Covid 19 has upped and amplified my creativity and given it another dimension, fired me on even further into new realms. I have had more time to think and muse over new projects and ideas it has given me more thinking time. What are your most significant achievements? My Current work The Zodiac Collection is a unique and pivotal collection, which engages with each Zodiac sign along with personal interpretations. Personal research into each star sign and their potential cultural and esoteric meaning. The Collection’s aims is to bridge a powerful link between cosmology and the arts. Do you have any fascinating or unusual clients or a funny story to tell? One of my clients is of 80’s years old and loves my mirror work and he is so interesting and really loves sequins ! amazing ! If you were starting a career as an artist today, what would you do differently? Be organised, take more risks, ask more questions. Getting a really good studio is important somewhere you can fully express yourself in many ways. What has been your most significant challenge in times of Covid 19, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge was the lack of social interaction and feedback an artist receives from showcasing works and going to exhibitions and private viewings, London is such an inspiring city. I overcame it by organising Zoom connections and visiting artists’ studios in a socially distanced way. What are your plans for the future? What new projects do you have in the pipeline? I am currently completing a Zodiac project by the end of August, a yearlong project and looking to expand my creative abilities in the digital realm and embarking on new learnings in After Effects and Projection Mapping. What would you like to be known for? I would love to be known for creating great artworks and changing people’s perspectives on the nature of reality and creativity. How do you know Laura? Through exhibiting at the Gallery. How did you hear about Laura I. Gallery? I heard about Laura I Gallery through the internet I responded to an Art call on spiritualty, submitted my work and had a successful showcase with the gallery. What do you think of our Mentoring programs or of the newest initiative for artists, The Society of Gold Minds? I think they are fantastic, enabling artists to reach out a lot more and expand their network. Mentors are extremely important for any profession and can give so much in life into new ideas and projects. Do you think it is important to have someone that has your back? Yes I think knowing you have a safe space to rely on can enable creatives to take more risks and some to confide in when the times get tough. Do you think it is important to receive constant support? Why? I think regular support is important because it enables the artist to grow and flourish like a seed needs the soil, artist is the seed and the support is the soil they need each other. Do you think it is important to be surrounded by a community of artists? I think it is very important for creatives to be around each other for support and to bounce ideas and offer critical creative dialogue, this enables wider perspectives to be attained and therefore more integrated practice. Would you recommend our mentoring programs? I haven’t taken part in the mentoring programme yet, I will do and am sure it is very inspirational and beneficial for artists and creatives. Has Laura I. Gallery inspired you or helped you in any way? How? Laura herself is an proactive Gallery owner and artist and a motivating female force. She has represented and sold works for me at auctions, showcased my works In her gallery and is now offering during this challenging time of Covid-19 to help sell and promote some of my available pieces. I adore her Mothers greetings cards that she makes truly a special gift statement. Would you recommend Laura I. Art Gallery? Yes I would very much so, for support and a friendly professional outlook in the creative world. A wonderful, inclusive gallery to work with in East London. See Sequin Kay`s artwork here:   Coronavirus Guidance and Information for Artists and Creatives We understand artists and freelancers are getting hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and we're committed to giving you the support and resources to help navigate this challenging time. Being said we have put together a list of opportunities that you can benefit from to help you, challenge you and enhance your talents. These lists are continually updated, but please get in touch if you know of something you think we should include. Grants
Laura Iosifescu’s Inside-out: A foreword by Gary Martin Miller : I have recently been very fortunate to witness the completely natural and boundary-less latest work created by visionary artist Laura Iosifescu, that is aptly and appropriately titled “Inside-Out”. This work is a commissioned piece, and it is clear Laura has taken full advantage of a “no limits” approach and this has enabled her to ramp-up her creative output even further, through technique and expression, to achieve a new depth unseen in her previous works. The piece “Inside-Out” is not a painting, but an “entity” or a “happening”, that seems to represent the intricate fabrication of one’s imagination or the stuff that is made from the subconscious state of dream. To commission more fantastic artworks by our very own award winning artist please click here:  We are proud to announce that we have raised over £6000 in our exhibition - I AM A WOMAN AND THIS IS MY LEGACY - Through the Barking and Dagenham Mayors auction (which we have directly organised) and sponsorship from Western Homes, Funds have helped aid three amazing charities but has also supported women artists to pursue their careers further. Five artists were selected in the auction and with two pieces sold on the night. List of selected artists: Ashima Kumar Kaat Stieber Patricia Bidi Redi Sequin Kay We are giving one more chance to women artists to win and fund their art practices. Artists are invited to apply for our Women Art Prize by the 21st September 2018. Please don`t forget to join us at the Private View on the 4th October 2018. We look forward to seeing you there!  |
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