Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurence Panadero.
Laurence, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am a French artist born in the Capital of Normandy called Rouen, an hour from Paris. A place that is richly medieval and filled with gothic churches and a Cathedral much-painted by impressionist Claude Monet.
My father being a photographer, I grew up in the prime of what was photography just before digital took over. He introduced me at an early age to the world of art as he was traveling due to work and would come back with pictures, film, and stories from all over the world discovering different cultures, people and sceneries.
My parents owned a couple of photography shops in the city, a studio and a black chamber. I spent hundreds of hours developing and taking pictures and started the conservatory of music and entered the Beaux-arts classes at around age 5.
Surrounded by gargoyles and sculptures my big dream as a kid was to restore churches perched up in the sky.
I Moved to Paris after high school in art and literature and became a student in design and communication which got me my first job as an art director junior in one of the largest worldwide advertising company at that time. I wanted to pursue my dream of being a sculptor and knew advertising wasn’t for me in the long run, so I continued my studies in plastic and visual arts; meanwhile, I was working in the theatre doing decors, scenography, and adaptations as the friends I was living with had their theatre company. We had great success, and our play went to national scene theatre and tour about 150 dates.
After school, I got a summer job in a renowned sculpture studio harassing them to give me a chance. I was eager and hungry for learning wanted to be able to make anything that came to mind as an artist. The summer job ended up being a five-year tenure learning and working from small prototypes to monumental contemporary art. I created a vast amount of artworks during this time, but my biggest piece took me six months, 1500 hours and was 3,5 tons.
I knew it would be my only work as an employee and was ready to be a full-time artist. I opened a Non-profit organization called VIM (energy/vigor). Created by artists for artists. combining all our talents
We as artists wanted to be independent of the gallery fame system and create our own exhibitions the way we envisioned them. Choosing our locations and going underground sometimes.
Our goal was the realization, promotion, and diffusion of any artistic creation, for any spectacle, event, or exhibition. VIM has taken part in more than 100 events, Producing and curating shows, organizing actions and partnerships with associations and other non-profits giving for the cause.
In 2006 I moved from Paris to Miami. It was an amazing time living in Wynwood and being there when all was changing and was getting built. I exhibited and curated a few shows in the Miami design district, My two children were born in 2006 and 2008, and I became a mom. I had to take a break from intense large scale work, but I kept on doing commission and dedicated more time to painting I opened my art studio to the public starting teaching art for children, adults, and special needs too. Created the “Velvet House.” I discovered a love for sharing my passion through teaching and the need for the community for culture and experiencing art.
In 2018 I fell in love with a wedding chapel for sale and just moved my studio in Fort Lauderdale.
It is in a great location between Fat village: a hotspot for artists and Wilton Manors. The art scene is growing here, and it is becoming the “new up, and coming place, the energy of my new neighborhood is amazing. The artist community is building strong.
It’s a very exciting moment now to be preparing my new big exhibition and work for the years 2019-20.
voila:)!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I have worked on themes that touch our society as Architecture, Cloning, Manga and Plastic Surgery, Technology and its effect on human beings relations.
Artists are the messengers of our time. We create conversations. I do believe in the importance of art that talks and delivers messages. Being a voice for society.
In my new work 2019-20, there is two parts that will connect together.
-‘Tribes’ A series of large paintings and murals, a connection to the earth adding animal spirits and the importance of values and diversity in our cultures
-Samurai’ or The New Dark Age a collection of medium to large scale sculptures and paintings. It is a
reflection on human being and relationships.
I chose Samurai warriors to represent the duality: light vs. darkness, good vs. evil.
There is no sword but the heart represented by a cylinder. The one with and the one without. The takers, the givers.
I have spent the past two years on this new exhibition and did a lot of research and testings on new material from the earth, non-toxic and durable.
I am creating porcelains, bronze pieces as well.
My work always combines tradition and technology, and this is a good way to keep its soul.
How can artists connect with other artists?
Well, I think moments of creation puts us into a ” zone” detaching ourselves from the outside world, but it is the way it works. Sometimes it is truly hard to get social after an intense creative mode.
In my new venue which I called the Art Chapelle, I host events and plan a calendar of events gathering community and space for artists to connect. Like we stared do a World dinner every two months where everyone brings a dish from their country or region they are from and we all seat on our farm tables and redo the world:) Contact me if you want to join. Next one is April 20th.
It is also interesting to go to the monthly art walks like Wynwood in Miami or Fat village in Fort Lauderdale, art shows and fairs. It is important to keep our eyes open at all times.
I also use social media to discover, follow or reach out to artists for collaborations or advises. I actually have a lot of artists friends on my facebook, some I have known personally and good friends and some I did not know before and became friends with through social media
we do communicate and share some of our work or artist calls on a regular base. Helping each other is the key. I invite any artist to contact me if they want to meet.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can visit my website www.laurencepanadero.com or follow me on Instagram and stay updated on new shows.
I am preparing a full viewing of my new work during Art Basel 2019 and welcome sponsors to help.
I am building my large scale sculptures and a total of 50 new pieces and need help with marketing as well.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1805 N Dixie Highway.
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33305 - Website: www.laurencepanadero.com
- Phone: 9546078883
- Email: Laurencepanadero@usa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurencepanadero_the_baker_art/
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
