Artist You Should Know: Lauren Jade Szabo’s Vibrant Journey

If you managed to make it to the de Young Open you might have spied Lauren Jade Szabo’s painting, To Make an End is to Make a Beginning ( I Paint Therefore I Am). This hardworking artist shows all over the Bay Area and beyond. Bright colors painted on canvas show the artist submerged, dreamlike, in water. In other works we see the remains of faded billboards. Often the paintings point to the ephemeral nature of human existence. The themes of who we are and what humans will leave behind as their mark on history appear often along with her deep love of the natural world.  Szabo often includes dance, film, clothing and printmaking in her art practice. Her signature color palette often escapes the canvas and makes its way into dance performance and costumes that she designs. Szabo finds importance in using art to bring communities together.  Catch her at the Marin MOCA this weekend.

Lauren Jade Szabo in her studio. Photo by Vita Hewitt

What mediums do you use?

I typically work with oil paint and am familiar with water-based media and drawing materials. I am typically drawn to representational two-dimensional artwork. I use photography as a tool frequently, and experiment in cyanotype and printmaking. I am interested in the overlap between these processes and textiles while expanding my use of media through collaborations, such as movement and video projects.

Photo by Hewitt Visuals.

How long have you been doing art?

I have been oil painting since I was five years old, but it started with crayons well before that. I grew up in a creative household and was encouraged to pursue technical training at a young age.

Where did you go to art school?

I earned my BFA in Illustration in 2010 from California College of the Arts. After Undergrad I worked in the field before completing an MFA in Studio Art, with an emphasis in Painting from 2016-2018 at the magical San Francisco Art Institute.

Hannah Levy and Lauren Godla perform at Szabo’s solo show at Marin MOCA.

What brought you to San Francisco?

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and moved to the Bay Area in 2006 to attend California College of the Arts. I lived in the dormitory the first year in Oakland and built friendships with artists that I still hold dear. 

Your work spans several mediums from painting, to performance, to clothing. How do you determine which medium to use? 

I participated in ballet, tap, jazz, and was on a hip-hop dance team and theater productions in my youth. Even with a deep connection to other mediums, I chose to get an education in painting. When I learned more about conceptual and performance art at SFAI, I found myself drawn to many diverse practices through collaboration with artists in their respected fields; One project informs the next.

Szabo in a collaborative performance that she designed at 4Waves 40 Performances for the Hole at SOMARTS in 2019. Photo by Vita Hewitt

What conceptual themes do you focus on in your practice? 

I am interested in examining the relationship between humans and the natural environment, and how these interactions relate to our collective health both individually and societally. The topic of empathy has become a through line in my work, especially in the collaborative performance art projects. It appears to me that our collective issues are rooted in feelings of otherness, both outwardly and inwardly and I strive to reconsider the way we interact with each other and the environment, especially as technology becomes more ubiquitous.

Photo by Vita Hewitt.

Are there any SF artists you think are great right now?

I am a big fan of the local arts community and my colleagues; I find inspiration in witnessing their commitments to unique practices and development of their voices. The de Young Open exhibition features hundreds of artists whose work is worth noting. Thanks to the museum for giving such a gift as community engagement to living, local, and underrepresented creatives.

What shows are coming up for you?

I am showing at the previously mentioned de Young Open, my work is also featured at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art during their annual fundraiser and auction ArtFWD. The museum is celebrating their 40th anniversary and is hosting an exciting roster of artists this year.

To learn more about Lauren Jade Szabo and her art:

https://www.laurenjadeszabo.com
IG @laurenjadeszabo