Joan Laughlin

“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” Pablo Neruda
I have lived in Houston for most of my life. My paintings are inspired by the natural world that I encounter everyday in the urban cityscape that is Houston. After spending many years making mostly monochromatic paintings, I am now exploring color through the painting of flowers, a very common subject matter for many artists going back centuries. This turn was inspired by a Facebook post by the artist David Hockney, perhaps one of our best colorists. In March 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic lockdowns, he posted an image of a new painting of daffodils with the words, “Do remember they can’t cancel the spring.” I was so moved by this simple act and will probably never forget it. The past several years have been very turbulent, not only collectively, but for me personally. And, one of the ways that I keep my sanity is to go for walks in the late afternoon and admire the flowers and gardens that I see on my way. Something about this act inspires hope, and so for the time being I will continue to paint flowers until life takes me on another turn.
My work can be found at Archway Gallery where I have been a member since 2019. From 2003-2020, I was an adjunct instructor of art and art history at HCC. I have had solo shows at Galveston Arts Center, Jung Center, and Sawyer Yards. I was a Hunting Art Prize Finalist in 2012, 2013 and 2015. In May 2027, I hope to have another solo show at Archway Gallery.