Lauren Snyder
Enter the thought-provoking world of artist Lauren Snyder, whose figurative work challenges the traditional gender binary by exploring and combining male and female features, inviting viewers to question societal norms while drawing from her own journey of gender identity exploration.
In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Snyder, a Santa Fe-based artist whose creative path is deeply intertwined with her personal journey of identity and transition. After a 37-year career in real estate, Lauren turned to art in her 60s, a delay she intentionally chose to ensure financial pressures would never influence her creative output. This financial independence has allowed her to embrace a highly experimental approach, working primarily with unconventional and found materials, such as scrap wood and old paint, to create abstract and figurative pieces that defy traditional gallery standards.
The conversation delves into the profound connection between Lauren's transition as a transgender woman and her artistic evolution. Lauren explains how her daily practice of feminizing her appearance through makeup directly influenced her shift into figurative work, specifically her interpretations of women's faces. Beyond the studio, her art serves a philanthropic purpose, with 100% of her profits donated to Girls Inc. of Santa Fe, an organization she supports as part of her broader goal to foster equal leadership roles for women in society. This episode offers a moving look at how living with radical intention can transform both an artist's work and their contribution to the community.
