Laura Kent is a mixed media artist currently residing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. As a visual artist she primarily creates large-scale drawings and sculptures that question “truths” and explore the processing of complex emotions.
She recently returned to Oklahoma City after completing her Master of Art Therapy degree from Western Sydney University in Australia. While there she completed her clinical training in art therapy and became a registered Art Therapist (AThR) with ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association). Through this experience she gained an interest in exploring art therapy from a postmodern feminist lens that questions “truths” and challenges limiting assumptions.
Prior to studying in Australia she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma where she received two awards of excellence from the College of Fine Arts and Design. She has exhibited her work in local galleries across Oklahoma City, including a two person show with her husband and fellow visual artist, Nathan Kent at [ArtSpace] at Untitled. In 2015 she assisted in proposing a new program to the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. The program became All Access Arts: Creative Aging. Working as a Teaching Artist, she co-taught seventeen classes at twelve different facilities in this program for two years. This experience allowed her to be of witness to the profound connections that can be formed via the artmaking process. The program continues to bring art classes to the residents of local assisted living and memory care facilities.
Education
2019 Master of Art Therapy with Distinction
Western Sydney University, New South Wales, AU
2013 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drawing Emphasis)
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
Exhibitions
Group Exhibitions:
2017 Integrating Arts and Therapy Exhibition
Western Sydney University, Parramatta (South) Campus, Rydalmere, NSW, AU
Two-Person Exbition: Ambiguous: Loss and Interference
[Artspace] at Untitled, Oklahoma City, OK
2016 Limited Processing
IAO Gallery, Individual Artists of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
A Hiding Place
[Artspace] at Untitled, Oklahoma City, OK
2015 The Gold Show
Fine Arts Institute of Edmond, Edmond, OK
Where Art Meets the River
Martha Burger Art Gallery, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
Alchemy
Melton Gallery, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
Red Dot
IAO Gallery, Individual Artists of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
2013 UCO Senior Capstone Exhibition
Istvan Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK
The Fine Art of Video Games
Istvan Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK
2013 CFAD Awards Gala
Mitchell Hall, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
2012 My Life in an 8x8
Student Art Gallery, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
RCB Bank Opening Show
RCB Bank Lobby, Edmond, OK
2010 The Language of Drawing
Donna Nigh Gallery, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
Juried Exhibitions:
2020 Concept Survey 2020
ahha Tulsa, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, Tulsa, OK
(Curator: Heather Pesanti) (catalogue)
2017 National Weather Center’s Biennale
National Weather Center, Norman, OK (Curator: Joe Goode) (catalogue)
2016 Momentum OKC 2016
The Plow, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, Oklahoma City, OK (Curators: Catherine Shotick and Trent Lawson)
2013 Student Art Association Juried Exhibition
Student Art Gallery, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK
2012 Student Art Association Juried Exhibition
Student Art Gallery, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK