Kia ora! I’m Lauren.

I’m a passionate creative based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand, using art as a way to nurture wellbeing. I’ve been building a regular art practice for over a decade. It began one summer when I discovered hand-lettering, and somewhere between inky hands and fresh ideas, I fell in love with the world of art and design. As paper and paint slowly took over my bedroom, I began to imagine where this newfound passion might lead.

I went on to study Communication Design, where I developed my design thinking skills and refined my creative process. Alongside study and work, I continued to return to art as a creative outlet. Towards the end of my degree, I experienced creative burnout. This was a challenging period that ultimately clarified just how essential making art is to my wellbeing.

My creative journey has spanned hand-lettering, mixed media, illustration, and paper collage. Across these mediums, my work is characterised by free-form shapes, organic textures, and bright colours. At its core, my practice is about slowing down, experimenting and finding joy through making. In recent years, I’ve begun sharing this approach with others through workshops, creating welcoming spaces that encourage play, relaxation, and connection through creative practice.

Thank you for being here.

Awards

• Best Award Finalist – Student Public Good, Designers Institute of New Zealand

• AD20 Award, Design Assembly

• Pat Hanly Creativity Award, Auckland Art Gallery