Illustration
Laura Aitken
I am a writer and artist from Santa Cruz, California. My work is heavily influenced by politics and current events and often focuses on different forms of activism in regards to global issues, such as the housing crisis and climate change.
Past Exhibitions
- Jan 20-23, 2020- Royal College of Art WIP Show, White City Studios, London UK (Screen Prints on Paper and Canvas)
- Nov 7-10, 2019- Arlington House, London UK (CMYK Screen Print)
- May 3-10th, 2019- Tenderbooks, London UK (Screen Print/Audio/Video)
- March 27th, 2019- Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art, London, UK (Screen Print)
- February 8th, 2018- Iron Triangle Brewing Company, Los Angeles, CA (CMYK Prints and Textile Prints)
- November 16th, 2017- Iron Triangle Brewing Company, Los Angeles, CA (CMYK Prints and Pen and Ink Drawings)
- October 11th, 2017-1015 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA (CMYK Screen Prints)
- October 6th, 2017-Stripe Men, Santa Cruz, CA (CMYK Screen Prints)
- July 28th, 2017-American Bookbinders Museum, San Francisco, CA (Screen Prints)
- June 12th, 2016-UCSC Final Show and Print Sale, Santa Cruz, CA (Screen Prints)
- November 6th, 2015-Berdels Apparel, Santa Cruz, CA (Drawing Series)
- June 10th, 2015-UCSC Final Show and Print Sale, Santa Cruz, CA (Screen Prints)
Published Art
- Content Free-2020: One of my short writing pieces and an accompanying screen print will be featured in the next edition of Content Free.
- Gross Magazine: Relish-2017: Five of my CMYK screen prints were featured in the debut edition of Relish magazine.
- Alpha Omega Alpha: The Pharos-2008-2018: I was employed as a quarterly illustrator for this medical magazine for ten years.
- UCSC: City on a Hill Press-2016: I worked as a weekly illustrator for the university newspaper for one school quarter.
Education
Royal College of Art- September 2018 to July 2020
London, UK
Master's Degree in Visual Communication
University of California Santa Cruz – October 2014 to June 2016
Santa Cruz, CA
Bachelor's Degree in Art
University of Oregon – September 2011 to June 2013
Eugene, OR
Undergraduate Art Major
Ghosts in the City of Angels-Part One
Ghosts in the City of Angels-Part One — The illustrations in Ghosts in the City of Angels are screen printed directly into the pages using photochromic ink, so they are revealed only when exposed to sunlight.
Ghosts in the City of Angels-Illustration — The novel is set in Los Angeles during summertime, so the characters are affected by the high temperatures and enduring sunlight. In reference to this, the images printed among the pages are screen printed using photochromic inks, which are invisible until exposed to sunlight.
Ghosts in the City of Angels-Illustration — The images are CMYK screen prints reminiscent of old photographs, which allude to the human history of the house described in the novel.
Ghosts in the City of Angels-Illustration — The images show the atmosphere of Los Angeles, where the story is set.
Ghosts in the City of Angels-Illustration — There are eight CMYK photographic illustrations screen printed by hand within the pages of part one.
compilation — The illustrations relate to the motif of ghostliness and anonymity prevalent in the book.
Ghosts in the City of Angels is a novel set in present day Los Angeles, which addresses the housing crisis and tenants' rights issues. It is reminiscent of pulp fiction novels in style and form, and serves as an entertaining story with the added purpose of inspiring reflection and conversation about tenants' rights.
A lack of adequate protections for renters coupled with low minimum wages has led to a global housing crisis that is leaving many people without shelter and basic necessities. This book looks to address these issues in a compelling fictional story in which the reader will absorb information about their basic rights as renters and learn about the process of legally challenging a corrupt landlord. I hope this book will inspire more awareness of renters' rights and compel the reader to work towards expanding on and protecting those rights.
This story addresses issues of underrepresentation and wealth disparity in a pulp fiction style noir mystery story with the theme of ghosts and anonymity. Set in the heat of Los Angeles, the book must be read in the sun in order for its accompanying images to be seen. Throughout the book, invisible CMYK images screen printed among the pages will appear only when exposed to UV light, a reference to the anonymity often experienced by underrepresented communities whose needs are often overlooked as they are caught in a cycle of poverty. The images are reminiscent of photographs in an album—an essence of humanity and anonymity among the pages of the book.
A lack of adequate protections for renters coupled with low minimum wages has led to a global housing crisis that is leaving many people without shelter and basic necessities. This book looks to address these issues in a compelling fictional story in which the reader will absorb information about their basic rights as renters and learn about the process of legally challenging a corrupt landlord. I hope this book will inspire more awareness of renters' rights and compel the reader to work towards expanding on and protecting those rights.
This story addresses issues of underrepresentation and wealth disparity in a pulp fiction style noir mystery story with the theme of ghosts and anonymity. Set in the heat of Los Angeles, the book must be read in the sun in order for its accompanying images to be seen. Throughout the book, invisible CMYK images screen printed among the pages will appear only when exposed to UV light, a reference to the anonymity often experienced by underrepresented communities whose needs are often overlooked as they are caught in a cycle of poverty. The images are reminiscent of photographs in an album—an essence of humanity and anonymity among the pages of the book.
Medium:
Digital print and Screen PrintSize:
13cm x 17cm
Here Am I — CMYK screen print
Here Am I-Detail One — John speaks about how change can be made through protest.
Here am I-Detail Two — John describes his experience with successful protest movements of the past.
Here Am I-Detail Three — John responded with hopefulness when I asked if he thought the Climate Movement could succeed.
I spent much of the last year researching the climate change movement, examining the perspectives of individual protestors. I began my research by interviewing 92 year old climate activist, John Lynes, to learn about his experiences with protest movements in the past, and his thoughts on the climate change issue of the present.
This CMYK silkscreen combines a photograph that I took of John being arrested at a climate protest with a small block of fire to represent the urgency of the movement for climate forward legislation. A transcript of John’s interview is screen printed beneath the image, which describes his thoughts on the potential for success from this movement, and the various challenges we must still overcome.
This CMYK silkscreen combines a photograph that I took of John being arrested at a climate protest with a small block of fire to represent the urgency of the movement for climate forward legislation. A transcript of John’s interview is screen printed beneath the image, which describes his thoughts on the potential for success from this movement, and the various challenges we must still overcome.
Medium:
Screen PrintSize:
60cm x 91 cm
Climate Protest One
Climate Protest One
Climate Protest One
Portrait of John
Portrait of John
Climate Protest Two
Climate Protest Two
Climate Protest Two
Much of my practice revolves around experimentation with the CMYK silkscreen process. In this series, I used some of the photographs I took at climate change protests or of climate change activists that I knew and experimented with the manipulation of ink during and after the screen printing process.
With this series, I hope to document and interpret an historic time period that will have extensive political, ecological and social consequences for decades to come.
With this series, I hope to document and interpret an historic time period that will have extensive political, ecological and social consequences for decades to come.