Meet Laura Viapiano: Abstract Oil Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Viapiano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I feel strange about calling myself a risk taker, because I’m definitely no daredevil of life. That said, I’ve never been one to strive to fit in or do what everyone else is doing or expects. I don’t mind being uncomfortable for a while if it means I am staying true to myself, and the end result is happiness and alignment for me. I did really well academically, but chose pretty uncertain careers to pursue; TV writing and production and abstract painting. When I was 24, I moved to Los Angeles from Buffalo, NY with no job and very limited funds. I think a lot of people who knew me at the time saw that as a risk, but when I got to LA, I was surrounded by tons of people who had done just that. I think risk is about perspective. I’ve always been very intuitive in my decision-making. I try to do what seems to align with my personality and my inherent purpose. I’ve learned the pain of what happens when I don’t honor my intuition, and I am very reverent to that. Prioritizing something intangible like purpose over immediate stability or security is not something I do lightly. I do it wholeheartedly. To the casual observer, I’m sure that seems risky. Or even foolish! I feel very guided though. I know it’s something of a luxury to have clarity of purpose, and I’ve had that for a very long time. It is a gift. 

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.
My paintings are about perspective. I love abstract art because it is collaborative in its nature. As the artist, I am only telling part of the story. The viewer tells the rest, and a relationship with the art that is unique to each person is born. I hope that whether it’s conscious or not, people who look at my paintings experience a moment of self-reflection. I am a huge proponent of meditation, and my abstracts are my way of bringing that to the world in an accessible, non-dogmatic way. When I first decided to fully commit to pursuing art as a career, I was experimenting a lot with different processes and mediums, trying to find a practice that resonated with me. I feel really lucky to have met my mentor, artist Harry Moody, who taught me his squeegee painting technique. I fell in love with the process because it combined the comfort and consistency of a step by step formula with the delight of an ultimately uncontrollable result. With it, I can hone my understanding and knowledge as a painter, but also exercise the art of letting go. Professionally, there is so much to understand about being a working artist. It is very entrepreneurial, which I don’t think I quite grasped years ago when first committed to it. Like creating any business, establishing myself as an artist has involved a series of important decisions, big and small, that crystallize something conceptual into something tangible. The beginning was really focused on finding a voice and creating a consistent body of work. When I started out, I was still working full time in TV as a promo producer, and later part-time, as a waitress. Developing a consistent studio practice that you show up for and treat as a job is paramount, but it can be challenging when you’re splitting time. For years, I strived to find a way to prioritize a studio practice. I finally feel like I am living that, and that is thanks not only to my own determination, but many mishaps, missteps and blessings in disguise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is just so much to do in LA, it’s always fun to show newcomers around! I LOVE food, so I have a lot of favorite restaurants here, and tend to organize visits around eating. A few must visits around the city are Jitlada for Thai food, South End and Pizzana for pizza, Kanpai for sushi in Playa del Rey, Gjelina in Venice, and Cafe Stella in Silverlake. We would definitely go on a few hikes. I love the ones in Malibu. There are also lots of little urban hikes through different neighborhoods based on the historic staircases around LA. They’re an awesome way to learn some LA history and get a work out! Of course we would have to have a few beach days. My go-tos are the lesser known spots in Malibu, like Heaven’s Beach or Lechuza. Then of course, we would have to hit some museums and galleries. A few that come to mind are Cirrus Gallery, Nino Mier Gallery and Diane Rosenstein Gallery. I love the Norton Simon Museum as well. As for entertainment and nightlife, I love going to see stand-up, so the Hollywood Improv and the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach would be on the list. Music-wise, I am an electronic music lover, and it’s been great to see LA’s underground scene grow over the last few years. I’d love to find a great techno or house DJ playing downtown somewhere. Another favorite for music is Harvelle’s in Santa Monica. It’s an intimate, sort of speak-easy vibe that never fails to deliver on talent. The Toledo show on Sunday nights is this sexy, neo-soul / funk cabaret show that I’ve been introducing to people for years.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My story is filled with so many amazing people who have supported, inspired, challenged and loved me through chapter after chapter of my journey. My family has always been incredibly accepting and encouraging of my choices and my decision to pursue a career making art. I have unconditional love in them, and that is everything. My mentor, Harry Moody, deserves so much credit. He let me into his studio, and his life and taught me the technique of squeegee painting. He showed me that living as a working artist is realistic and doable. My friends, who have met me at my highs and my lows and fearlessly continued walking alongside me. All of the people who see my paintings and feel something that inspires them to connect with me or to collect a piece. Every day I wake up grateful for all of you.

Website: https://www.lauraviapiano.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraviapiano/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauravenita/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraViapianoArtist

Image Credits
Michael Viapiano