Laura Porter
Laura's practice brings together elements of textiles and craft alongside more conventional ways of making sculpture. Laura has exhibited across the UK, receiving funding from A-n and Arts Council England, as well as the British Council as part of her on-going collaboration with Malaysia-based artist, Lee Mok Yee.
Through her interest in artist-led ways of working, Laura developed Studio KIND. in the summer of 2020 alongside previous co-director, Richard Gregory, who both recognised the need for a contemporary arts space in Barnstaple, North Devon and driven by a desire to create a creative community, addressing the rural isolation often felt by artists in the area. Studio KIND. aims to bring exciting arts practices to North Devon from across the UK, creating professional development opportunities for artists, and linking North Devon with creatives hubs across the South West; whilst also embedding arts and culture in the local communities of Northern Devon, who have historically had a lack of visual arts provision.
Since December 2020, Studio KIND. has hosted 59 exhibitions; working with 9 regional arts organisations and collectives, 10 local schools, 20+ local charitable organisations; ad showcasing 7 recent graduates and 22 solo presentations of work by artists from across the South West and the UK, bringing critically-engaged contemporary discourse to North Devon.
The current exhibition, SCANITAS, by Tom Milnes, is the third collaboration with Plymouth-based space, KARST, working with their studioholders to develop solo presentations of new work that is then showcased at Studio KIND. The collaboration aims to increase artistic dialogue between Plymouth and North Devon, sharing best practice across artist-led spaces and receiving organisational support, whilst encouraging artists to increase ambition within the region.
(b. Lewisham 1991) www.studiokind.org.uk insta @studio.kind
Laura Porter is one of the guest speakers for our Symposium Q and A weekend, filmed as part of our '100 Mentors' online course.
