From Niche to Noticed: A Thank You Letter

Hi everyone,

As I wind down from a busy season of art crawls, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Truly. My cup is overflowing. Not only have I had the joy of meeting so many new people in person, but I’ve also been blown away by some unexpected internet attention. Since launching my website in 2020, I’ve officially more than doubled its lifetime revenue in just the past six months. It’s surreal. I’ve never felt more seen or supported.

Some recent highlights I’m especially proud of:

- Publishing my self-released hardcover book Forced Witness

– Collaborating with Diabla66 Handbag Society to create one-of-a-kind clutch purses using my old recycled canvases

– My solo exhibition Forced Witness at Rumriver Art Center this January

– And my next solo show Warning, which will be exhibited at Hallberg Center for the Arts in summer 2026 (I know it’s a ways away, but I’m already counting the days)

I’ve also just wrapped up multiple art crawls, and now I’m in that weird “hurry up and wait” space. The truth is, this path hasn’t been easy, between the rejections, the long hours, and the emotional labor of making honest work, but I’m starting to see the momentum build. I put in the time every week whether it’s painting, packing, connecting, or seeking inspiration. And despite the growth, I still feel like I’m chasing a moving goalpost, always striving to be better.

When I first started sharing this body of work, it was seen as niche, even “too radical.” Some people still feel that way. But the tide is turning. I think the message is starting to land a little deeper now, as more people feel the unease of the times and long for something real. For me, it’s about living without warning: acting boldly, being present, and creating without waiting for the "perfect" moment.

I’ll be sharing more thoughts next week in a blog post as we approach the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, an event that cracked something open in me and sparked the direction of my work. I still believe we’re processing the 2020s in slow motion. Art can be a vehicle for that reckoning, a form of resistance, and a way to tell the truth when everything else is gaslighting us.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here. Whether you’ve been riding with me since day one or you’re brand new to my world, I’m so grateful.

With love and fire,

Laura