Lauren Starr is an award winning photo media artist, including the winner of the National Bluethumb Art Prize. She is a teacher and last year gave her first Ted x talk on becoming the heroine of your own story.
Her work explores the nature of our existence, through narrative and symbol-rich imagery. Heavily inspired by the Dutch Masters, and pre-Raphaelite artists, Lauren’s photographs are described as having whimsical, ethereal and painterly qualities.
Many of Lauren's artworks are composite images. She intentionally photographs multiple scenes and masterfully blends them together in post production to create something altogether otherworldly. In 2023, Lauren also began a series of mixed media works, where she added paint and gold leaf to her photographs. She is known for her still life artworks as well as her narrative driven pieces.
After the success of her ‘Regional Victoria’ series, which features Bendigo, Castlemaine and Daylesford, Lauren began her project ‘Luminaries: Reimagining Women on the Goldfield.’ Through Lauren's research, both into her own ancestors and historical documents, she developed a connection with these pioneering females. Through the use of costume and photography Lauren has reimagined the Australian landscape of the 1850s and artistically represented the women who came to live there. She has twelve completed works in the series, with more to come.
Lauren’s work is housed in both private and public collections, including the Bendigo Art Gallery and Treasury Place.
Lauren lives and works on Dja Dja Wurrung country, Bendigo with her husband, two children and dog Hank. She divides her time between making art, teaching literacy at a local primary school and her family. She is a keen gardener, baker of sourdough and an avid reader.