My interests shifted toward nature illustration during the pandemic when I began teaching my young daughter about the plants and animals that we saw while we were hiking in the parks around Philadelphia. I have always enjoyed learning about each and every plant and animal in my landscape and I was excited to share this with her. I grew up in the country but I have lived in the city of Philadelphia for over 20 years. When I was a child, I would spend hours wandering through our meadow, looking for insects and flowers to identify with my field guide. Now when Isee these same creatures and plants it reminds me of my childhood and the magical fleeting moments that we experience as children. By creating nature illustrations I am able to celebrate the natural world and connect with others who share this appreciation.
Laura Havlish is an artist and illustrator based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received a BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She runs an art collection care business in addition to creating illustrations for her Etsy shop. She has also taught kindergarten art class, hand painted plant labels for a local park, painted pet portraits and designed a mosaic mural for a daycare. She is a recent member of Illustrators for Hire, a curated group of freelance illustrators from around the world.
2000
Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia,
PABFA in Painting, Summa Cum Laude
2020
Woodmere Annual: 78th Annual Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Eileen Neff
2013
Broad Spectrum Juried Exhibition, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE
Victory for Tyler: Victory for All Alumni, Juried Exhibition, Crane Arts Building, Philadelphia, PA
2011
My House is Your House, Collaboration project organized by Hiro SakaguchiMorris Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2007
Art of the City, Juried Exhibition, Art in City Hall Program, Philadelphia, PA
2006
Signals From/About Central Europe, IIKeki Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2004
10th International Artist Residencies Exhibition, Vizivarosi Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2025
Selected Drawings from 100 Native Animal Series, Holy Cannoli Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
2020
Works on Paper - Laura Havlish, B2 Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Works on Paper - Laura Havlish, Green Line Cafe, Philadelphia, PA
2018
Mosaic Mural collaboration with Alexis Nutini, Young Children’s Center for the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2002 Hungarian Multicultural Center Artist Residency, Balatonfured, Hungary
2025
Member of Illustrators for Hire
