Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Gray.
Hi Lauren, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a photographer and painter based in ATL. I’ve loved many different art forms since I was a child, including drawing, painting, and sculpting. When I was in 8th grade, I told my grandma I wanted to start photography and she gave me my first two cameras to get started with. From there, I fell in love with photography and began taking photography classes in high school as well as being the yearbook photographer. As a sophomore in college, I started my photography business where I was shooting grad pics and photos of local events in my college town.
That year I declared a minor in photography and with that, I had to take an art elective in which I chose painting. Prior to taking this painting course, the only art form I was planning on pursuing as a career was photography. When I got in my painting class and actually started painting, my professor and classmates encouraged and pushed me to continue painting. I didn’t take painting seriously until four years later, which was 2020. I set a goal that I would get into my first art show in 2020 and ended up booking a plethora of shows by the end of the year. In 2020 I also launched an online store and began selling my paintings online. I currently run my art business, which includes photography where I shoot portraits (fashion, maternity, graduation, birthday), events (parties, galas, conferences, family events), and e-commerce/branding/promo for small businesses. My paintings are abstract, mixed media, and overall unapologetically black art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth whatsoever. When it became time for me to choose a major as an undergrad, I was fearful of majoring in art because it had been stigmatized in my mind that artists were going to forever struggle and not have any financial stability. Therefore, I was undeclared for two years and finally decided to major in psychology because it was the only other class I had taken that kept my attention at the time.
During my last year of undergrad, I began working as a behavioral therapist for autistic children. I currently still work in this field today (five years later) and have just graduated with my master’s degree in this particular field. I love the work I do and I love helping my children progress. However, during my last semester of grad school, I decided that I’ve been playing myself. I hadn’t been fully focused on creating or growing my art business this entire time that I’ve had my psychology career. It was 2020, that I began to create and paint like never before. I decided I was going to get in my first art show, in which I did, and from one show, I received a multitude of other opportunities. With these opportunities, I’ve learned so much about being an entrepreneur and that selling art is not easy. Art is subjective, it requires entrepreneurship, salesmanship, and determination.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My mission with my art is to display and uplift the beauty, aura, essence, and magnificence of people of color, especially black women. I believe women are the most beautiful subjects to paint and photograph. With my photography, I appreciate the interaction that takes place between myself and my subject. I love being able to capture someone in a new light that they may not have seen themselves in. I love being able to help people feel good about themselves and to provide a fun experience during their photoshoot. On the other hand, my paintings are super abstract and contain tiny details and small elements that take the eye to a new place every time. I enjoy using a marker in my paintings to add fine detail and bold lines. I also enjoy creating pieces that are subject to the viewer’s perception. My abstract pieces are unique, uncommon, and unapologetically black.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is not to be swayed by common assumptions or stereotypes and to stay true to myself. Since I was a child, my dream has always been to make a living off of making art and selling it. I wish I would have known all of the entrepreneurial opportunities that artists have to make money when I was a child. So many objects require a design and you could literally put art on anything and sell it, such as shower curtains, dishes, lighters, clothing, hats, etc. Prints and canvases open another world of opportunities for financial increase.
However, this was not taught to me as a child. I put off pursuing a career in art for so long because I was fearful of being financially unstable. This thought was placed in my mind because society portrays professional artists to be broke and starving. This led to me not creating for years, putting other people’s businesses and jobs before my own business, and ultimately being lost and confused. I spent years battling to pursue an art career, going back to school for art, becoming an art teacher, with only working in psychology, going back to school for psychology, etc. However, no matter the road I have taken I have found my way back to my purpose and I’ve learned that I can literally do anything I want to if I believe I can make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Email: laurengvisuals@gmail.com
- Website: www.artbylaurengray.com
- Instagram: artbylaurengray
