Get in touch! Email: info@LauraWacha.com
Bio
Born and raised in Florida, I earned my BA from Mt. Holyoke College and promptly ignored it, preferring traveling and odd jobs to any kind of career. I drove a forklift, manned a Fotomat booth, made balloon arches, and lived out of a Datsun wagon. In 1990 I got my first real studio and have since produced hundreds of paintings and sculptures along with three sci-fi novels and two splendid children. I currently live in an old trailer alongside some noisy peacocks in rural New Mexico. By day I am a mild-mannered art teacher at a local Elementary School.
Artist Statement
Dichotomy and conflict are the major themes in my work. I feel compelled to create as a way to self-soothe and make some sense of this paradoxical world we live in. Drama on my canvas creates peace for those around me. I am like a crusty old oyster, irritated by some horrible grain of sand but committed to creating a pearl. Since I delight in visual dissonance, the pearl generally comes out garishly colorful and cheerfully grotesque.
My own personal irritations, my particular grains of sand, arise from all levels of modern inconveniences. I am annoyed by the stuff that is everyday life for some poor soul on this planet: waiting rooms and refugee camps, housework and gun violence, gender roles, war, motherhood, religion, climate change. The list of topics I paint about is as endless as the tragedies seen on the nightly news. Using symbolism sometimes personal, sometimes universal, I explore the schisms of life in allegorical scenes that revel in the joy and drudgery and horror of it all. Like a nervous burst of laughter at a funeral, my images are oddly humorous; an interpretation of humanity twisted through my home-made absurdist filter of a life-long love of cartoons, circus, and spectacle.
My work is a topical hand-hewn diary of sorts; each piece a narrative, yes, but none an illustration. Stories swirl in lurid technicolor, taking tangents and looping back around, explorations of the bitter daily grind mixed with a desire for a sweeter world. Cartoonish in nature, my colorful almost familiar characters populate a packed composition where just enough passive-aggressive ambiguity serves as an invitation for the viewer to see their own story rather than mine. I don’t need to tell an innocent bystander what a picture is about if they happen to find themselves in it.
Born and raised in Florida, I earned my BA from Mt. Holyoke College and promptly ignored it, preferring traveling and odd jobs to any kind of career. I drove a forklift, manned a Fotomat booth, made balloon arches, and lived out of a Datsun wagon. In 1990 I got my first real studio and have since produced hundreds of paintings and sculptures along with three sci-fi novels and two splendid children. I currently live in an old trailer alongside some noisy peacocks in rural New Mexico. By day I am a mild-mannered art teacher at a local Elementary School.
Artist Statement
Dichotomy and conflict are the major themes in my work. I feel compelled to create as a way to self-soothe and make some sense of this paradoxical world we live in. Drama on my canvas creates peace for those around me. I am like a crusty old oyster, irritated by some horrible grain of sand but committed to creating a pearl. Since I delight in visual dissonance, the pearl generally comes out garishly colorful and cheerfully grotesque.
My own personal irritations, my particular grains of sand, arise from all levels of modern inconveniences. I am annoyed by the stuff that is everyday life for some poor soul on this planet: waiting rooms and refugee camps, housework and gun violence, gender roles, war, motherhood, religion, climate change. The list of topics I paint about is as endless as the tragedies seen on the nightly news. Using symbolism sometimes personal, sometimes universal, I explore the schisms of life in allegorical scenes that revel in the joy and drudgery and horror of it all. Like a nervous burst of laughter at a funeral, my images are oddly humorous; an interpretation of humanity twisted through my home-made absurdist filter of a life-long love of cartoons, circus, and spectacle.
My work is a topical hand-hewn diary of sorts; each piece a narrative, yes, but none an illustration. Stories swirl in lurid technicolor, taking tangents and looping back around, explorations of the bitter daily grind mixed with a desire for a sweeter world. Cartoonish in nature, my colorful almost familiar characters populate a packed composition where just enough passive-aggressive ambiguity serves as an invitation for the viewer to see their own story rather than mine. I don’t need to tell an innocent bystander what a picture is about if they happen to find themselves in it.
LINKS
Video: interview in the studio on The Wet Stuff Podcast
Video: interview with the artist on KOB 4
Laura Wacha on YouTube: visit for process videos
Laura Wacha on facebook
Laura Wacha on Instagram
Laura Wacha on Tik Tok
Video: interview in the studio on The Wet Stuff Podcast
Video: interview with the artist on KOB 4
Laura Wacha on YouTube: visit for process videos
Laura Wacha on facebook
Laura Wacha on Instagram
Laura Wacha on Tik Tok
CV
Education:
BA, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Awards:
President's Award, 2015, NMAEA
Local Treasure, 2015, AABA Albuquerque, NM
Best of Albuquerque, Best Visual Artist 2014, Albuquerque The Magazine
Collections:
NM Art in Public Places:
2021, Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
2020, Mesalands Community College, Tucumcari, NM
Collection of the City of Albuquerque
Publications:
NM Department of Cultural Affairs Coloring Book, 2023
Plague 2020, Covid-19 Poetry and Art from Around the World, 2020, editor Mahnaz Badihian
Featured artist, SchoolArts Magazine, Nov 2019
Novels:
Lobster Boy, 2020
The Lingerlings, 2012
The Ruminators, 2012
Select Exhibitions:
2023 Four at North Fourth, N. Fourth Art Center Gallery, Abq, NM
Featured Artist, Ghostwolf Gallery, Abq, NM
2022 VIVID Preview, Ghostwolf Gallery, Abq, NM
VIVID: A Sampling of Today’s Albuquerque Art Scene, Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA.
Rough Patch, Rebel Prints Gallery, Abq, NM.
2021 Featured Artist, Ghostwolf Gallery, Abq, NM
Wacha Here Now, Old City Hall, Belen, NM. Solo.
Cardboard!, Old City Hall, Belen, NM. Solo.
2020 Art as Antibodies, AMP Concerts virtual event, NM
2019 Cold Sweat, Inpost at Outpost Performance Space, Albuquerque, NM.
Local Treasures, Ghostwolf Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
When Worlds Collide, Keep Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM.
Wonderfully Weird Wonders VI, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL.
Just Bee, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL.
The Wild Bunch, Sumner & Dene, Albuquerque, NM.
2018 Wonderfully Weird Wonders V, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2017 Guns to Art, form & concept gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Local Treasures, NMCC Gallery with a Cause, Albuquerque, NM.
Wonderfully Weird Wonders IV, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL.
Local Treasures, Andaluz Hotel, Albuquerque, NM.
Featured Artist, Ghostwolf Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
2016 Wonderfully Weird Wonders III, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
Imaginary Friends and Fools, Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
The Figure in Contemporary Painting, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM.
2015 WILD+LIFE, Page Coleman Gallery, Abq, NM.
Circus Interruptus, Kimo Theater Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Twitterpated/Deflated, Downtown Contemporary Gallery, Abq, NM.
Dog and Pony Show, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo
2014 Transformations, Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Parallel Worlds, So. Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM.
2013 Lolo Solo, UNM Valencia Fine Arts Gallery, Los Lunas, NM. Solo.
Likely Stories, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
2011 Fifty, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
2009 Albuquerque Now, The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.
Sock Puppets and Spilt Milk, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo
2008 Biennial Southwest 08, The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.
Circus Show, A Bitchin' Space and Verve Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
Everything But The Kitschen Sync, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, LA, CA.
2007 Good Intentions, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
2006 Katrina Lasko Gallery, Bernalillo, NM.
2005 Transitions, Albuquerque Contemporary 2005, Albuquerque, NM.
2004 Aniles Fabulae, Katrina Lasko Gallery, Bernallio, NM. Solo.
Texas National 2004, Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, TX.
SoQ, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM.
2002 Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Art Of Albuquerque, Magnifico!, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM.
2001 Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
2000 More Confessions of a Compulsive Painter, Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Texas National 2000, Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, TX.
1999 Why Albuquerque?, Magnifico!, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM.
Plan B Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Confessions of a Compulsive Painter, Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
1998 Texas National 98, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX.
FAC Annual, Fine Arts Center, Lubbock, TX.
1997 Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
1996 Tartan Pony Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
AleRT, SITE Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM.
Southwest '96, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM.
1995 Harwood Art Center Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
1994 Love Objects, Salt of The Earth, Albuquerque, NM.
1993 Women Artists '93, Matrix Gallery, Sacramento, CA. Merit award.
Java Joe's, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
Visions of Excellence, Albuquerque, NM. Merit award.
1992 What's It To Ya', San Francisco, CA.
1990 Bristol City Museum, Bristol, England.
Clifton Arts Club, Bristol, England.
1987 Nightingale Theatre, Brighton, England. Screening of independent filmmakers.
1986 Brighton Gallery of Fine Arts, Brighton, England.
Education:
BA, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Awards:
President's Award, 2015, NMAEA
Local Treasure, 2015, AABA Albuquerque, NM
Best of Albuquerque, Best Visual Artist 2014, Albuquerque The Magazine
Collections:
NM Art in Public Places:
2021, Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
2020, Mesalands Community College, Tucumcari, NM
Collection of the City of Albuquerque
Publications:
NM Department of Cultural Affairs Coloring Book, 2023
Plague 2020, Covid-19 Poetry and Art from Around the World, 2020, editor Mahnaz Badihian
Featured artist, SchoolArts Magazine, Nov 2019
Novels:
Lobster Boy, 2020
The Lingerlings, 2012
The Ruminators, 2012
Select Exhibitions:
2023 Four at North Fourth, N. Fourth Art Center Gallery, Abq, NM
Featured Artist, Ghostwolf Gallery, Abq, NM
2022 VIVID Preview, Ghostwolf Gallery, Abq, NM
VIVID: A Sampling of Today’s Albuquerque Art Scene, Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA.
Rough Patch, Rebel Prints Gallery, Abq, NM.
2021 Featured Artist, Ghostwolf Gallery, Abq, NM
Wacha Here Now, Old City Hall, Belen, NM. Solo.
Cardboard!, Old City Hall, Belen, NM. Solo.
2020 Art as Antibodies, AMP Concerts virtual event, NM
2019 Cold Sweat, Inpost at Outpost Performance Space, Albuquerque, NM.
Local Treasures, Ghostwolf Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
When Worlds Collide, Keep Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM.
Wonderfully Weird Wonders VI, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL.
Just Bee, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL.
The Wild Bunch, Sumner & Dene, Albuquerque, NM.
2018 Wonderfully Weird Wonders V, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2017 Guns to Art, form & concept gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Local Treasures, NMCC Gallery with a Cause, Albuquerque, NM.
Wonderfully Weird Wonders IV, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL.
Local Treasures, Andaluz Hotel, Albuquerque, NM.
Featured Artist, Ghostwolf Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
2016 Wonderfully Weird Wonders III, Curly Tale Fine Art, Chicago, IL
Imaginary Friends and Fools, Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
The Figure in Contemporary Painting, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM.
2015 WILD+LIFE, Page Coleman Gallery, Abq, NM.
Circus Interruptus, Kimo Theater Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Twitterpated/Deflated, Downtown Contemporary Gallery, Abq, NM.
Dog and Pony Show, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo
2014 Transformations, Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Parallel Worlds, So. Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM.
2013 Lolo Solo, UNM Valencia Fine Arts Gallery, Los Lunas, NM. Solo.
Likely Stories, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
2011 Fifty, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
2009 Albuquerque Now, The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.
Sock Puppets and Spilt Milk, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo
2008 Biennial Southwest 08, The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.
Circus Show, A Bitchin' Space and Verve Gallery, Sacramento, CA.
Everything But The Kitschen Sync, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, LA, CA.
2007 Good Intentions, Matrix Fine Art, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
2006 Katrina Lasko Gallery, Bernalillo, NM.
2005 Transitions, Albuquerque Contemporary 2005, Albuquerque, NM.
2004 Aniles Fabulae, Katrina Lasko Gallery, Bernallio, NM. Solo.
Texas National 2004, Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, TX.
SoQ, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM.
2002 Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Art Of Albuquerque, Magnifico!, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM.
2001 Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
2000 More Confessions of a Compulsive Painter, Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
Texas National 2000, Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, TX.
1999 Why Albuquerque?, Magnifico!, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM.
Plan B Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Confessions of a Compulsive Painter, Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
1998 Texas National 98, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX.
FAC Annual, Fine Arts Center, Lubbock, TX.
1997 Coleman Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
1996 Tartan Pony Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
AleRT, SITE Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM.
Southwest '96, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM.
1995 Harwood Art Center Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
1994 Love Objects, Salt of The Earth, Albuquerque, NM.
1993 Women Artists '93, Matrix Gallery, Sacramento, CA. Merit award.
Java Joe's, Albuquerque, NM. Solo.
Visions of Excellence, Albuquerque, NM. Merit award.
1992 What's It To Ya', San Francisco, CA.
1990 Bristol City Museum, Bristol, England.
Clifton Arts Club, Bristol, England.
1987 Nightingale Theatre, Brighton, England. Screening of independent filmmakers.
1986 Brighton Gallery of Fine Arts, Brighton, England.