My practice investigates the relationship between light and material. Primarily usingglass, silver nitrate, mylar and resin, I produce multi-layered reflective works. I employthe analytics of math, chemistry, optics alongside the intuition of memory and play,creating evocative gestural works that invite viewers to meditate and reflect. Whilemy wall hung glass works read as paintings, they are sculptural in their essence, andwalk the line between image and object. Rather than traditionally rendering light, Irely on its physical presence and absence, conveying emotional memories andcapturing fleeting moments from my subconscious. Pushing the boundaries of depthwithin 2D works, I chemically deposit silver on glass, creating mirror-like marks; as aresult, these luminous works are interconnected to the spaces they inhabit. Whilepainting with both textural opacity and ethereal translucency, I often excavate entireparts of a composition through hand-cut elimination, revealing my silver marksbeneath and relying on suggestive remains. My work communicates a mysteriousand paradoxical understanding of the world, highlighting our transient and skewedperception of light through observation and materiality. Inspired by the landscapeand layered facades of Philadelphia, my recent work embodies the fabric of urbanchaos while exploring ideas of metropolitan flux and tension.
My process is technically complex and distinct, born out of an arts education at ThePennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts that allowed me to develop and experimentwith my unrestricted curiosities. Constantly wondering how I can divest myself fromthe material and instead use it as a learning tool, I commit daily to working from anenergizing humility rather than an exhausting ego. Instead of planning every step ofthe process and resigning to a predetermined outcome, I allow the process tosurprise me. Often working on multiple projects and ideas at once, I never know whatlayers will end up together in the end. Inspired by artists such as John Cage, Pat Steir,Jose Parla, and Sam Gilliam, I create utilitarian objects that offer my viewers a space tothink critically, pay attention and reflect.
Artist Biography
Laura Sallade has exhibited throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Montana andMaryland, including group exhibitions at The Smithsonian Affiliated Ann MarieSculpture Garden & Art Center in Solomons, MD (2021), the NextFab ArtisanAccelerator Show in Philadelphia, PA (2021) and the Woodmere Art Museum inChestnut Hill, PA (2015). She obtained a Certificate in Sculpture from ThePennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 2013 and, during herstudies, was awarded numerous grants and scholarships including the PAFAFellowship Prize, the Richard C. Von Hess Travel Scholarship, the Susan LandMemorial Prize for Printmaking, the Marcia Lampert Prize for a Construction, theLucille Sorgenti Scholarship and the Wolf Scholarship in Honor of Peter Paone.Sallade was selected for the Lackland Well Artist in Residence (2021), the LongwoodUniversity Visiting Artist (2021) and the NextFab Artisan Accelerator Fellowship(2021). She has recently been awarded the Michael Tomassoni Scholarship (2021),the Jurors Award from the Ann Marie Sculpture Garden & Art Center in Solomons, MD(2021) and Philly Current Magazine’s ‘Best of Philadelphia’ (2019). Sallade’s work hasbeen commissioned for the permanent collections of the Ritz Carlton in Amelia Island,FL, Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, the Atlantic Aviation Airport in Philadelphia,PA, Vail Resort in Vail, CO, Anthropologie Clothing Stores in Philadelphia, PA & NewYork City, NY, and Dualtone Music Group in Nashville, TN. Her artwork is found inprivate collections around the world in cities such as Paris, Philadelphia, New YorkCity, San Diego, Marseille and Nantucket.
Education
2013 Certificate in Sculpture, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2014 Honorary Year of Study, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2022 Continuing Education, Drawing Into Painting, NYC Crit Club
Awards, Residencies, and Fellowships
2023 SIM Artist in Residence, Reykjavik, Iceland
2021 Lackland Well Artist in Residence, Farmville, VA
Longwood University Visiting Artist
Michael Tomassoni Scholarship
Jurors Award, Ann Marie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center
Nextfab Artisan Accelerator Fellowship
2019 Philly Current Magazine, Best of Philadelphia.
2014 Philadelphia Sculpture Gym Fellowship
Richard C. Von Hess Travel Scholarship
PAFA Fellowship Prize
2013 Jurors Award, Philadelphia Sketchclub, Philadelphia PA
The Alexander Prize, Honorable Mention
Susan Land Memorial Prize for Printmaking
Marcia Lampert Prize for a Construction
2012
The Alexander Prize, Honorable Mention
Lucille Sorgenti Scholarship
Wolf Scholarship in Honor of Peter Paone
Solo
2023 Invisible Thread, Connie A. Eastburn Gallery, Langhorne, PA
2022 Any Versus All, Massey Klein Gallery, New York, NY
2020
Hindsight, Underscore Art Gallery, Whitefish, MT
2019
UNSEEN, Massey Klein Gallery, New York, NY
2018
Deep to Deep, Massey Klein Gallery, New York, NY
2013
Returning Student Exhibition, Gallery 128, Philadelphia, PA
2012
Perception: A Study in Ways of Seeing, Elixr, Philadelphia PA
Two-Person Exhibition
2017
Blurred Lines, Massey Lyuben Gallery, New York, NY
Group Exhibition
2022
Finding a Memory, Piano Craft Gallery, Boston, MA
NYC Crit Club Group Show, Gallery NineDee, New York, NY
2021
SHINE, Ann Marie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, Solomons, MD
Women Artists Breaking Out, Larchmont, NY
Nextfab Artisan Accelerator Show, Philadelphia PA
2020
Group Exhibition, Five 3 Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Willie Green: Press Play, Massey Klein Gallery, New York, NY
Naturals, NoBA ArtSpace, Philadelphia, PA
Group Exhibition, Old City Jewish Art Center, Philadelphia PA
2017
Sallade, Scarpone, Dubinsky, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2016
Fall Collective, Massey Lyuben Gallery, New York, NY
Woodmere Art Museum Annual Juried Exhibition, Chestnut Hill, PA
2015
Emerging Talent 2015, Seraphin Gallery, Philadephia PA
Woodmere Art Museum Annual Juried Exhibition, Chestnut Hill, PA
2014
113th Annual Student Exhibition, PAFA Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Emerging Talent, L.G.Tripp Gallery, Philadelphia PA
The Satellite Show, The RePop Room, New York, NY
2013
Through, Architeqt Gallery, Philadelphia PA
112th Annual Student Exhibition, PAFA Museum, Philadelphia PA
Absolutely Abstract, The Sketchclub Gallery, Philadelphia PA
2012
111th Annual Student Exhibition, PAFA Musuem, Philadelphia PA
Parktowne Place Group Show, Parktowne Place, Philadelphia PA
