Meet Lori Bauman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Bauman. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Lori Bauman is a visual artist living and working in both Scottsdale, Arizona and Denver, Colorado. She holds an MA in Studio Art with an emphasis in video from New York University’s Study Abroad Program and a BA from Alverno College in Studio Art and Education. She has taught in multiple academic and community settings including Alverno College and the Milwaukee Art Museum. Bauman Co-Founded RedLine Milwaukee, at its core an artist residency program which provided professional development, education and exhibition for an international community. Her artwork has been exhibited in the USA and Italy.

My latest work explores fashion design with a narrative of how, why and what effects clothing and its relation to gender has changed through time. I’m thinking about how the construct of feminine/masculine ideals have dictated shapes, fabrics, styles, structures, behaviors and how these elements have played a role in restricting movement, thoughts, abilities and aspirations. This work reflects, rejects and challenges gender role assignment and bias. This clothing series if complete when the viewer interacts with and wears the garments.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Creative lives are seldom without struggle. Money is usually not an incentive. A real passion to understand the world and communicate alternative ways of thinking and problem solving has been my consistent inspiration. My art is the result of my trying to understand the world around me. Some of my current work challenges age old beliefs surrounding religion, sexuality and identity which can sometimes ignite strong and conflicting emotions in viewers. This provocation is intended to open these topics to healthy debate and conversation, never to offend.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work has changed greatly over the years but I’ve always worked in multi-media. I began my art career in clay and sculpture, moved into video and installation work in graduate school and later transitioned to collage. I’m currently working on taking my collage work to fabric and garment design. The most consistent aspect of my work over the years has been the narratives. Often beginning with religious stories or fairy tales, I weave in modern day issues to create a familiar but altered narrative. The result serves to show us if these age old traditions or ideals hold up in today’s world. The reason I’m so excited about moving my gender and identity narratives into fashion design is the ability to include the viewer in the conversation. The artwork is not finished until the viewer wears and interacts with the piece. The viewer completes the work and makes it better.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There’s always a team. I had the good luck of running into an incredible mentor when Steve Vande Zande hired me to teach his teen outreach programs with him at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Steve leads by example. He made me a better artist, a better educator and a better person. We went on to Co-Found an Art Residency and Education non for profit and ran it together for ten years. What drives the quality of much that I do, is that I don’t want to disappoint Steve. There have also been numerous teachers, curators, gallerists, artists and board members who have been very generous along the way and took the time to support and teach me how to move forward.

Pricing:

• Prices varying and can be found on my website

Contact Info:

• Email: lori.labstudios@gmail.com
• Website: www.loribauman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_labstudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAB-Studios-100408231879976
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/loriabauman
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/labstudiosart

Image Credits
Jenny Kaufman, Xposedcapture, photo cred: (RunDuoPuppets, LastSuper, Tracy Couture, Brite)