Lauren Wallis Hall (b. 1980, NY) is a visual artist living and working in the Hudson Valley region of New York.

Artist Statement:

My painting practice is rooted in place and biodiversity. It reflects my desire to deepen my experience of the natural world and convey these experiences to others. I make small-scale oil paintings of the wild subjects I encounter on my daily walks in the forest. I have a particular interest in the overlooked or "underfoot" aspects of nature such as lichens and mosses, which are some of Earth's oldest lifeforms, are relatively slow growing and vary greatly according to geographic area. Due to their small scale, observing them encourages slowing down and regarding the environment with more intimacy and care.

My painting process in turn is slow and involves sustained attention over long periods of time. I crop my subjects so that they are seemingly abstract forms yet they are close-up intimately observed entities depicted in their own ecological context. Slowly I build up color. Over time the surface grows until I achieve a dense highly-textured field that records my ongoing state of encounter and engagement with my subjects; a process that is comparable to the way they themselves grow slowly over time.

Attending to these non-traditional landscape subjects through painting expands my awareness of the diversity of life all around. This awareness drives me to create an encounter between the viewer and the natural world that I hope will encourage further appreciation and curiosity for the environment. Too many of us are severed or otherwise disconnected from the natural world and reengagement benefits all.