We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Jade Szabo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren Jade, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I question those that advise me to be practical in the context of my career choice and project ambition. Being an artist does not feel like a choice to me. Though challenging at times, it is a means to live a purposeful life that should not be taken for granted. Taking risks often feels like the only way something worthwhile will materialize and can hold my attention, as well as the viewer’s. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am interested in blurring the line between my art practice and my life experience. Art is my lifestyle, and I aim to live in pursuit of it, creating work that enables me to cultivate a meaningful life. My work reflects what I find most awe inspiring in my lived experience. The content reflects visual examples of points of tension between our perceived separation of mankind and nature. My motivation is to explore the nuanced relationships between humanity and the environment. It can feel existential living in a capitalist culture, which may reinforce why this work feels significant to me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I spent the first eighteen years of my life in Los Angeles before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area for art school. Golden Gate Park is home to some

of my favorite sites in the area, including the The de Young Museum where I have a forthcoming exhibition, and the California Academy of Sciences where I have sourced inspiration for several pieces. The de Young Open, in which I’m featured, runs from September 30, 2023 – January 7, 2024 with the opening reception September 30 from 11am-4pm.

I will also be showing at the ART FWD Annual Benefit Auction and Celebration at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art in Novato. The free opening night preview party, and silent auction kick off is September 9, 5:00–7:00. The show runs through September 30th, with a closing reception and live auction that evening.

MarinMOCA will also be hosting open studios event in which my studio will be open to the public on September 9, 2:00 – 7:00 PM & September 10, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Beso bistro is adjacent to MarinMOCA and it’s a lovely place to grab a bite and a glass of wine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to those who have put their faith in me in my experimental practices, especially collaboratively in performance art projects. Thanks to Vita and Bryan Hewitt for their film direction, Rebecca Johnson at Shawl Anderson Dance Center, for inviting me to re-enter the dance field, and to Lauren Godla for sharing her movement practice. As a historically solo studio oil painter, working with others in different fields to create something with greater ambition that otherwise would not exist without a team has at times felt life affirming.

Website: https://www.laurenjadeszabo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenjadeszabo/

Image Credits
Photos by Vita Hewwitt, Bryan Hewwitt, Lisa Vortman, Almac Camera, and the Artist Hines

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