Artists Statement

Being raised in the American West and having red rock, alpine meadows with streams and distant views of the Great Salt Lake in my back yard, my childhood was rich with experiences of nature. I have always been an observer of weather and clouds, and often wonder about the vastness of the sky and land. Today I live in Utah, choosing Salt Lake City and Torrey for my studio work, each giving me inspiration right out my front door. The different landscapes and atmospheres of each location impart different moods to the variety of my work.

My paintings focus on both urban and rural land and skies, with an emphasis on color relationships, climate fluctuations, weather patterns and cloud formations. My artistic intent is not to paint exactly what I see but rather to crystallize moments in time that are suggestive and psychological. I observe the contrasting colors in these subject matters and I highlight changes in nature as a way to connect the viewer with nature. 

The underlying paradox of this venture is the urgency I feel that all the stunning vastness will be forever changed by pollution, land development and industrial incursion. My paintings are reflections of my passion to encourage the viewer to appreciate the beauty and fragility of nature and all her resources. 

Curriculum Vitae

Laura Draper Boardman was born and raised in Utah. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, spending part time at her home in Torrey Utah, just outside of Capitol Reef National Park. She is a professional oil painter, showing her work at 15th Street Gallery in Salt Lake City Utah. Laura is a past member of the board of Directors of the Salt Lake Art Center; the a past trustee of Utah Museum of Modern Art; past chair of the Friends of Utah Western Art at the Utah Museum Fine Art on the University of Utah campus.

Prior to going back to school at the University of Utah to receive her BFA in painting and drawing, Laura owned and operated Boardman Design, a full-service interior design firm, starting it in 1983. Laura still enjoys design specification for residential and projects. During her business tenure she was President of the Salt Lake Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners; Member of the Board of Directors of the Park City Arts and Humanities Council: a member of ASID; Elected delegate for the White House Conference on Small Business; Chaired the Youth Council for High Risk Youth for the Utah Department of Work Force Service while sitting on DWS Allocation Board. Currently Chair of AAUW Utah Women’s Art Exhibition and Board member of Rocky Mountain Care.

Education
2004 University of Utah – Bachelors of Fine Arts – Painting and Drawing
1978 Brigham Young University – Program of Interior Design
1988 Phoenix Institute- Emphasis Communication

Professional Experience
2023 Chair of AAUW Women Exhibitions & Trust, State of Utah
2022 Brand Representation, AAUW of Utah Regional, Salt Lake City, Utah
2021 Collaborative Book Cover, “The Feather”, Jack Mark, Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 Instructor of Basic Drawing, Rabbit Studios, Teasdale, Utah
2011 to 2014: Chair of Friends of Western Art at the Utah Museum of Fine Art, Salt Lake City, Utah
2004 to 2012 Trustee of Salt Lake Art Center (now the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art), Salt Lake City, Utah
2004 Trustee of Artists of Utah, 15 Bytes on line publication, Salt Lake City, Utah
1992 President of Utah Association of Women Business Owners Board of Directors, Salt Lake City, Utah
1992 to 1997 National Association of Women Business Owners Board of Director, Public Policy committee, Washington DC
1983 to present, Owner of Laura’s Interior & Boardman Art & Design