Laurie McKern

Over a decade of Art: Est. 2013

Canadian born Laurie McKern is a contemporary figurative and landscape artist working mainly with gouache, oils, oil pastels, encaustic wax and fabric. Mckern is just like her art, bright, mood lifting and beautiful. Looking at her works, it is obvious how drawn she is to the fluidity of the human form. She doesn’t shy from unusual angles and shadows, rather these are embraced and highlighted within her works.

Mckern explains that her creativity was born in her grandmothers house in her home town of Toronto, Canada. Her grandmother was a dressmaker and Mckern fondly remembers the inspiring imagery of fashion figures, fabric snips and designs cluttering the walls when she visited. It was these early visuals that left a lasting impression on Mckern and continues to inspire her figurative painting series.

“My childhood summers were spent at my grandmother’s, a talented dressmaker with a basement studio. This is where my fascination with fashion and textiles began.”

Mckern’s professional artistic career began with illustration work and progressed to full time painter after she moved to Sydney, Australia.

“I am always evolving and expressing my surroundings as they change. The more I travel – the more I enjoy outdoor sketching and painting landscapes and nature. However, my favourite thing to paint is always people, especially women.”

In 2019 Mackern was awarded a 30 day artist residency at the Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, Ireland followed by a years art residency at Creative Space, North Curl Curl, Sydney in 2020. Most recently, Mckern was announced Winner of the Artspace Popup Art Prize, The Entrance, for her painting ‘The Girl With The Turquoise Earring’.

Laurie McKern

The Sunning Birds

Pink Flamingo Pool

The Everglades

Laurie McKern

The Sunning Birds

Pink Flamingo Pool

The Everglades

KAB Gallery Terrigal

KAB Gallery Sydney