Skip links

Laura Vela

artist, illustrator, designer, dreamer

Laura Vela is an emerging artist of Latvian origin. Studied piano, gaining masters degree in Information Technology and then masters degree in painting at the Art Academy of Latvia.

Laura Vela uses identity, time and transgenerational trauma research as inspiration for her artworks. In the recent years the artist focuses on developing her own technique combining old school of painting and drawing with new media and materials. The main impulse comes from social environment, searching for her own identity and creating a bridge from the past to future.
The artist mainly focuses on paintings as media, but also creates installations and video art.
On year 2021 Laura Vela receives Nordic & Baltic Young Artist Painter Award 2020 for her masters degree multimedia installation “Time.Identity”.
Since 2014 she has been participating in local and international group exhibitions and has had 6 solo shows. Laura Vela’s artworks are located in private collections in Latvia, United States, the Netherlands, Austria, France and Germany.

Contact

Email & Social Networks

LauraVela.art@gmail.com

Education

2021 - now
Practical Doctoral Studies

Art Academy of Latvia

2017 - 2020
Painting department, Master program

Art Academy of Latvia

2013 - 2017
Painting Department, BA program

Art Academy of Latvia

2006 - 2010
Image processing / MA program

Riga Technical University

2002 - 2005
IT Technology, BA program

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

2003 - 2006
Piano Class

Ventspils Music College

Awards/Grants

2021
Nordic and Baltic Young Artist Award 2020

Painter Award

2017
Boris and Ināra Teterev foundation grant
2018
Book “Mediju vides daudzveidība”

Nomination for the Best Publication „Zelta ābele”

2017
“Latvia’s State Forests” sympathy award
2011
Book “Latvian University history”

Nomination for the Best Publication „Zelta ābele”

Solo Exhibitions

2022 – ISO-TAPE, XO gallery, Riga, Latvia

2021 – Wounded Memory, gallery “5 malunai”, Vilnius, Lithuania

2020 – KEYFRAMES, Jumala City meseum, Jurmala, Latvia

2020 – Nothingness, Grand Poet hotel gallery, Riga, Latvia

2020 – Defragmentation of a Mind, XO gallery, Riga, Latvia

2019 – Edge of Earth, Carnikava, Latvia 

2017 – Face. Untitled, Kalnciema Quarter Gallery

Group Exhibitions

2023 –  SEB grant finalst exhibition, Art Academy of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

2023 – Circle of Arts, Pinacoteca dell’Accademia di Belle Arti, Turin, Italy

2023 – Don’t dream it’s over, Gallery Pallas, Tartu, Estonia

2022 – A FLUID STATE OF MIND: Baltic painting in expanded field, Pamėnkalnio Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania

2022 – EuroFabrique, Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris, France

2021 – Užutrakis Art Festival 2021, Vilnius, Lithuania

2020 – Točka, Tocka cultureplace, Riga, Latvia

2019 – Vilnius ArtFair 19’, Vilnius, Lithuania

2019 – Emerging Lines, Berlin, Germany

2018 – Brederlo-von Sengusch grant exhibition

2018 – Mytology of Nowdays, Carnikava, Latvia

2018 – Seashore Dreams, Carnikava, Latvia

2018 – CILME, Rigas Makslas telpa, Latvia

2018 – “New talants for Latvia100”, Art Academy of Latvia

2018 – “Art Academy of Latvia”, Giterslo museum, Germany

2017 – “Dream Catchers”, Galeria Non Gratta, Latvia

2017 – “Generations”, Liepaja museum, Latvia

2017 – “Art Future”, Art Academy of Latvia

2017 – “Latvian Forest grant”, Latvia

2017 – Ģederta Eliasa contest exhibition, Jelgavas Ģ. Eliasa museum

2017 – LMA students exhibition, Art House Kuldiga

2017 – Seashore Spirit, Carnikava, Latvia

2017 – SEB grant exhibition

2016 – Student Diary, Dubulti Art Station

2016 – Turn on Future, Art Academy of Latvia

2015 – SEB grant exhibition

2015 – How it comes , KAR gallery (Kuldiga, LAtvia) and Pamenkalnio Galerija (Vilnus, Lithuania)

2014 – Will not Fall, Bruņinieku 2

2014 – Brederlo-von Sengusch grant exhibition

2014  SEB grant exhibition

2014 – Internation Plenair exhibition, Kuldiga Art House

2014 – Academy Wind, Art Academy of Latvia