Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: I earned an honours BFA from York University, where I specialized in sculpture and drawing. I established my line, LaKrause in 2008, drawing influence from my formal training, my grandmother’s impeccable, classic style and my love for all things vintage. I began selling my designs in the summer of 2008 at the Queen West Market and the Junction Arts Festival and took part in last year's Queen West Art Crawl. LaKrause pieces are featured in two local Toronto stores, Shopgirls and Model Citizen. My pieces have also been used in various photoshoots for Flare, Naked Eye, Toro, Eye Weekly Magazines.
Artist Statement: LaKrause Headwear are one-of-a-kind, handmade designs that take inspiration from the stylish and glamourous hats and headpieces of the past. From fascinators and cocktail hats to reconstructed vintage felt hats, LaKrause pieces are created and embellished using various feathers, netting, fabrics, vintage jewellery, buttons and repurposed materials. LaKrause Headwear combines classic forms with modern ideas to create unique, fashionable pieces that make a big statement.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: May 22 2010 Solo Show Koyman Galleries Ottawa
February 18 2010 Solo Show Antony's Gallery Whitby
October 2009 McMichael Autumn Art Sale
Summer 2009 Group Show Algonquin Art Centre
June 2009 group show Gallery on the Lake, Buckhorn
May 2009 Solo Show Paula White Diamond Gallery Waterloo
April 2009 Solo Show, koyman Galleries 2009
Artist Statement: I am fascinated by the abstract patterns formed by nature, in particular the Jackson Pollock like compositions created by tree branches. I combine these patterns with a strong light source, the sun, brilliant autumn foliage or graphic shadows on snow. These elements combine to create the building blocks of my work and when successful I hope to transport the viewer to a magical moment in time
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: 2004 - 2008 Bachelor of Design, Major in Ceramics, graduated 2008, OCAD University, Toronto, ON.
2008 Annual student exhibition, Evolving DNA, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, ON.
2008 ‘Debut’ show at Edward Day Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2008 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Philips Square, ON.
2008,09 Spring One of a kind show, OCAD booth, Toronto, ON
2008,09 Cabbage Town Art and Crafts, Riverdale Park West, Toronto, ON.
2008,09 Queen West Art Crawl, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON.
2009 The MADE show, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON.
2008-Present Ceramic Artist Assistant at Kosoy and Bouchard, Toronto, ON.
Artist Statement: I have always been interested in combining the functional and sculptural qualities in ceramics. For me, function adds another level of appreciation for the handmade object; where its use and its beauty are valued simultaneously. Currently my inspiration comes from various underwater sea creatures and coral reef formations, which I have observed first hand in some of my travels.
My work does not duplicate what already exists in nature; it is a starting point for my imagination. The underwater world provides me with an unlimited amount of inspiration for form, texture and colour.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: Education
1992 Bachelor of Arts in Education, Major in Art, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
1997-1998 Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
Solo Shows
2005 Solo Show "Abundance" La Terra, Baltimore, Maryland USA
2004 Solo Show "Abundance" Grand Cru, Belvedere Square, Baltimore, Maryland
Juried Shows
2010 Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto ON
2010 Toronto Art Expo, Metro Convention Centre, Toronto ON
2009 Hangman at the Little Art Show, Mercedes-Benz Showroom, Toronto ON
Coming Shows
July 2010 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
Artist Statement: Art has always been my passion, discovered as a child in art classes. Painting provides me with an outlet for expression through a stormy sky or a peaceful seascape; for me it is a way to release energy, escape and unwind.
My art is inspired by changing skies and varied landscapes; images that form the basis for my paintings. I paint with feeling and emotion, alternating between using texture and layering washes of colour in the quest to tell a story and create atmosphere through my art. Each piece evolves as an exploration of subject matter and techniques coincide. Painting predominantly in oils, I constantly introduce other media such as wax and ink to pursue new techniques and finishes.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: 2010 Too Cool for School Art and Science Fair, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
2009 sPark Interventions, Various outdoor Toronto parks
2008 Big Toys, McIntosh Gallery,University of Western Ontario, London
2007 Big Toys, Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, Brantford
2006 Pulic Art Installion at Bloorview Kids Rehab, permanent collection, Toronto
2004 Flotilla, McMaster Museum of Art, McMaster University, Hamilton
2003 Flotilla, Harcourt House Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Artist Statement: As an installation artist, I make fun-loving, hands-on sculptures such as my giant chia pets at Nuit Blanche that sprouted edible wheat grass. In my paintings, this sense of play takes the form of humor and irony as a way to express raw human emotions.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: Exhibition
2008 Toronto Art Expo
Art Teaching
2004-present Art Instructor - Lolart Enjoy Education Inc. (Teaching oil painting, acrylic, watercolour and sketch. Organizing painting workshops.)
Education
1995-1999 Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, China. Honoured Bachelor of Arts in Oil Painting
Artist Statement: The relationship between two subjects has always been my favourite topic. Still life, literally speaking, is motionless. Motionless, however does not mean lifeless. Because of the relative stillness of subjects, investigating the relationships among them infuses vigor and spirit into my works. My paintings usually exhibit the subtle relationships between object and object, between objects and plants, and between objects and background. Every painting reflects its visual rhythm with its strong colour contrast, arrangement of subjects and the interaction between subjects and their environment.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: I have my BFA in visual art from York University and I make my living doing set decoration and props in the film industry. I have been photographing abandoned buildings since 2004. My photography has been in many group art shows, including the Contact Photography festival and the juried Sunnyside Art Show and Sale, and will soon be shown at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. I was also selected to create an open call installation in 2007's Nuit Blanche.
Artist Statement: The images of abandoned buildings are haunting. Whether they were places of work, home, or leisure they once played a pivotal role in people’s lives. People depended on these places to live. And now they sit in ruins, mere shadows of their past importance. Without their former tenants they slowly deteriorate. With the help of nature and vandals these spaces transform into beautiful scenes of decay. I try to capture this beauty and, in doing so, remind people of what has been forgotten.
Recent Exhibitions, Work AND Education: Exhibitions
2010-2009, The Artist Project, Toronto
2010, Pop, Parts and Pieces, The Beverly Owens Project, Toronto
2010, The Grand Trunk, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
2009 - 2007, Shelf Project, C1 Arts Space, Toronto,
2009 - 2007, Square Foot Show, A.W.O.L. Gallery, Toronto
2009, I heart Art, Alma Gallery, Guelph,
2009, Convergence, The Tom Thompson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound
2009, Feature Artist, The Drake General Store, Toronto
EMPLOYMENT
2008 -Present, Art Teacher
2007 - 2008, Therapeutic Art Instructor,
Education
University of Waterloo, Honours B.A. Fine Arts
Artist Statement: I explore the idea of object as artifact and the importance of providing a home for discarded mementos. These small pieces moved with me and became a part of my creative ritual, living with the objects I collect before developing them into an intimate assemblage. Over the years I have reused and re-contextualized found objects with the purpose of creating narratives that play on the concept of lost discarded memories, both real and fabricated. I focus on themes of love, family, religion, the role of women in various times and places and how these have changed with the advent of modern society.
 "lakrausebird.jpg")
 "lakrauseclip4.jpg")
 "lakrausebrooch3.jpg")
 "lakrauseclip.jpg")
 "AlgonquinAmberOne.jpg")
 "GoldenSparkle.jpg")
 "ShiningBirchesLakeBaptiste.jpg")
 "twilightblues0000.jpg")
 "queen1.jpg")
 "queen2.jpg")
 "queen3.jpg")
 "queen4.jpg")
 "NarelleGibbs_Apparent Calm_24 x 60_Oil on Canvas.jpg")
 "NarelleGibbs-Impending_Storm Oil on Canvas 24x48.jpg")
 "NarelleGibbs-Misty_Morning Oil on Canvas 24x48.jpg")
 "Promise 18x24 Oil on Canvas.jpg")
 "James_HusbandandWife.jpg")
 "James_SometimesIWouldLiketoDestroyYourFace.jpg")
 "James_IDreamtThataMonsterTriedtoGetMe.jpg")
 "James_TotheMoonandBackAgain.jpg")
 "Zhao1.jpg")
 "Zhao2.jpg")
 "Zhao3.jpg")
 "Zhao4.jpg")
 "Kittens.jpg")
 "Misunder Stood.jpg")
 "Tree Moss.jpg")
 "Operation Room.jpg")
 "blimp-prade.jpg")
 "dunce.jpg")
 "gun-bang.jpg")
 "love-of-mine.jpg")