The Work of Lauren Satlowski
By Brett W. Gourdie
Picture a humble studio overlooking silent oaks and the frozen waters of Canfield Lake. This is where 26 year old Lauren Satlowski creates her art. Quite a change from her scenery of just a year ago. Hailing from Detroit, Satlowski moved to her studio in the woods after graduating from Wayne State University.
Her work ranges from portraits with a mysterious feel to captivating abstract paintings featuring a brilliant color palette. Her portraits have a surreal feel about them. “I love to watch the images in my mind come to life,” says Satlowski. “From my vision into reality, each is different.” Indeed they are. From a dreamy self-portrait to a charcoal of an early Jerry Garcia she was recently commissioned to complete – the difference is striking.
Entering the studio, her abstracts stood out among the other works. Satlowski seems a bit unsure of the gems, but without reason. They are strong, colorful pieces filled with emotion. “I painted this one when I returned from Seattle, it captures my mood at the time,” explains Satlowski. While she considers herself more of a figurative artist, her forays into the abstract are a welcome exercise.
Satlowski's work is in some ways reminiscent of Gerhard Richter. Richter is a German painter whose works can often be classified as photo realism. Satlowski seems to struggle with the idea of choosing between the two styles. In our opinion, her diverse range is what makes her an interesting artist. Regardless, her work merits discussion from both critics and collectors.
Satlowski is a perfect example of the young, creative class that has moved to northern Michigan. She looks for and is finding a new inspiration for her ever expanding body of work in our region. We are looking forward to viewing (and collecting, I might add) the new work created from this northern Michigan studio.
A sampling Satlowski’s paintings can be currently seen at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City’s Warehouse District, on her website laurensatlowski.com, or esty.com/shop/laurensatlowski.
Copyright 2009 Pithy Media, LLC