LAURA T.
Laura is an academic administrator, research writer, and artist, whose work focuses on the critical theory of visual culture within the context of history. She grew up in remote north Ontario before moving to Toronto, where she has earned her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Visual and Critical Studies from OCAD University, a degree that allowed her to combine studies of psychology, philosophy, the history of science and medicine, and literature into an interdisciplinary framework from which art and society can be analysed. She won the program medal, the highest distinction within each program’s graduating class, in 2016, and went on to complete her Master’s of Art History at the University of Toronto in 2018. Laura has showcased her research papers in various academic conferences throughout North America, and uses her studies to inform her visual arts practice, creating a fruitful cycle of critical investigation followed by the creation of visual language in support of the research. It is her personal philosophy that learning is an amazing and enriching experience, and that curiosity and engagement with the world around us should be nurtured; she strives to make education a positive and inspiring experience for all her students.
In her spare time she likes to get back to her roots and explore the wilderness, whether it be hiking, camping, climbing, or some combination of the three, and advocates for the personal and social benefits of appreciating and preserving nature. Her passion for the outdoors stems from a childhood fascination with geology, palaeontology, and evolutionary biology, as well as a love of animals. Laura has taught several clinics on backcountry safety, and can show you what to do in case of a bear encounter.