Lauren Luna

Lauren Luna is an emerging visual artist and designer. Born and raised in Columbus Ohio, Luna has been sharing her artistry with the world for over 10 years.

At an early age, Lauren knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: a famous artist! Unlike other young adults whose childhood aspirations usually change, Luna’s desire to be an artist remained. Immediately after high school, Luna went directly to college in pursuit of her dream. While studying at Kent State University’s School of Art, she learned that there were a variety of opportunities for promising artists in New York City. Realizing the importance of being at the center of the art industry, Luna began to travel to New York City twice a year and eventually moved there in 2001 to work as a visual designer for Bloomingdales and as a gallery assistant at the renowned Cinque Gallery.

Luna’s art is an expression of freedom and is her way of sharing her joy and creativity with the world. Never one to be pigeon holed into a certain genre, Luna’s art ranges from painting that are politically charged and direct with their messages, to free flowing abstracts where she draws upon her love of music to create vibrant works of art to cityscapes in which her love of New York City and other big cities come shining through.

Most recently Luna has moved her art from the canvas onto a new surface; shoes. Forming a company baring her name, Lauren Luna Ltd. specializes in custom shoes; from sneakers to stilettos. Her customized shoes have been seen on the feet of radio personalities, popular music artists, and underground fashionistas. She has been featured in a myriad of blog websites ranging from independent radio to fashion forums, and internet networking sites.


Luna holds a Bachelors of Fine Art focusing in Painting from Kent State University, a MA in Education from Manhattan College, and is currently back in school pursuing her Masters of Fine Arts from the Academy of Art University, based in San Francisco, California. She now resides in Columbus, Ohio with her seven year old son.
Education
Currently pursuing Masters of Fine Arts, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2004 Masters of Science, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY
2000 BFA, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Awards
2008 Honorable Mention-Art Buzz 2009 Collection
2008 Award of Merit-International Art Show: Part II – Abstract Guests Gallery
2008 1st place popular vote- Fire and Rebirth – www.zhibit.org
1999 Honorable Mention- Steward Art Show, Kent, Ohio
1996 Art Scholarship- Marian College Indianapolis, Indiana

Solo Exhibitions
2010 Se7en Deadly Sins Fashion Show, Concourse Hotel, Columbus, Ohio
2010 The State of Our (un)Union, KIACA Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2000 On the Outside Looking In Senior BFA Show, Sculpture Gallery, Kent Ohio
2000 Where Ya From? Snaps and Taps, Columbus, Ohio
1999 Little of This, Little of That Snaps and Taps, Columbus, Ohio

Group Exhibitions
2010 Wine, Women, and Heels, The Social Room, Columbus, Ohio
2009 Benefit for Haiti, KIACA Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2009 CO Tour Fashion Showcase, Villa Milano, Columbus, Ohio
2009 September Gallery Hop, Sole Classics, Columbus, Ohio
2009 Columbus-The Crossroads to Ohio, James A. Rhodes State Office Tower,Columbus, Ohio
2009 Via Colori, Pearl Alley, Columbus, Ohio
2009 TrU-Rrt, Kiaca Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Passing the Torch, James A. Rhodes State Office Tower, Columbus, Ohio
2008 C Note Art Show, Junctionview Studios, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Art of Democrasy:Farewell to the Wasteland, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
2008 Art of Politics, BoMa, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Red Chair Art Affair, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Salon Show, Terra Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 One Night:High, Ohio Art League, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Agora V, Junctionview Studios, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Via Colori, Goodale Park, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Gahanna Gallery Walk, Gahanna, Ohio
2008 Stripped Away MadLab Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Bar of Modern Art, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Inside the Artist's Studio, Mahan Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Rhythm of Art, Terra Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Movement, Color and Light, Agni Gallery, New York, New York
2008 Contemporary Media Show, Terra Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Agora IV, Junctionview Studios, Columbus, Ohio
2008 C-Note Show, Junctionview Studios, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Age of Aquarius, Butler Art Center, Butler, Pennsylvania
2008 Terra Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2008 Abstract works from the Terra Gallery, Concourse Gallery, Upper Arlington,
2008 Morpho Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2008 Utrecht Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2007 Club Masque, Dayton, Ohio
2001 Founders & Friends Exhibition, Cinque Gallery, New York, New York
2001 Roots and Wings, Cinque Gallery, New York, New York
2000 Stewart Art Show, Stewart Hall, Kent, Ohio
2000 Works on paper: printmaking + drawing, Painting Gallery, Kent, Ohio
2000 From Roots to Recovery, Music Listening Center, Kent, Ohio
2000 Cold Exchange, Millworks Gallery Inc, Akron, Ohio
2000 Express Yourself, Stark State College Of Technology, Canton, Ohio
2000 When Harlem was in Vogue, Uumbaji Gallery, Kent, Ohio
1999 Variations and Perspectives, Uumbaji Gallery, Kent, Ohio
1999 Xposure, Uumbaji Gallery, Kent, Ohio
1997 Black Art Plus, Columbus, Ohio
1997 Executive Frames, Columbus, Ohio

Permanent Collections:
KIACA Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
Cinque Gallery, New York, New York
Drs. Oswagu- Bosah, New Albany, Ohio
Mr. & Mrs. Lee, Columbus, Ohio
Clearbrook Middle School, Columbus, Ohio

Media Coverage
2010 “Rise, Grind, Rinse, Repeat…Artista Style” Urban Elements
2010 Artist Makes Shoes Her New Canvas, WSYX 6 Good Day Columbus
2010 Q & A: Shoe Designer Lauren Luna, Columbus Alive
2010 ‘Untitled: Lauren Luna is putting together a calendar” MaterialKillers
2010 :Lauren Luna” R-A-WShoesBlog
2010 “Fly Definition & Lauren Luna Ltd. Present “Custom Ladies Calendar”/Promo Video Lifted Loud
2010 “Demonstrator Yells at Photographer 1968’ by Lauren Luna” Soul Portrait Magazine,
2010 “Customized Heels by Lauren Luna”, This Next,
2010 “Digging My Heels into the Atlanta Black Book Expo.” How to Stylishly Fall From Grace,
2010 “Featured Addiktions Lauren “Artista” Luna” Addiketd to Fashio
2010 “’Irony’ by Lauren Luna”, Soul Portrait Magazine,
2010 Nike Air Force 1 Low “Newport” Customs for Noreaga” Sneaker Obsession,
2010 “Lauren Luna: Hustle, Grind, Rinse” Shoe Hunting
2010 “Lauren Luna: Custom Shoe for Haiti Relief Charity Auction for Yele.org” Paint or Thread,
2010 “Lauren Luna-Ed Lover Custom Nike Air Force 1”, Paint or Thread
2010 “Custom Air Force 1’s Designed by Lauren Luna’ Material Killers,
2010 “Now That’s Fresh: Lauren Luna Custom Sneakers for Haiti”, Fresh Faced Daily,
2010 “Art and creativity coming to a shoe near you.”, The Examiner,
2010 “DAY 13: #30interviews30DAYS: Lauren Luna @LaurenLuna” BeShayBe,
2010 “Shoes by Lauren Luna at www.artistaluna.com Nice!!!” Villamayor’s Automated Apparel Spot,
2009 The 2009 Collection: Art Buzz,
2009 “Local Talent-Lauren Luna” Kingsrowe Fashion
2009 “Fly Spy:Lauren Luna::Raekwon x Noreaga” FlyPaperBlog,
2009 “Big Things Poppin: Lauren Luna”
2009 “My Woman of the Week ‘Lauren Luna’” JWORK Blog,
2009 “Spotlight: Lauren Luna” BLAKstarTalk,
2009 “Painter leaves mark on personalized shoes”, The Columbus Dispatch,
2009 “FLY SPY :: LAUREN LUNA - EDRIEL x LUDIE DESIGNS” FlyPaper Blog
2009 “Lauren Luna is crazy with the art and shoes.” JWORK Blog,
2009 Who's Who in Black Columbus
2008 Merge, Issue 17, Spring 2008
2000 “Art Access: A Look into the Creative Side of Kent State”,The Burr



Memberships Representations
Ohio Art League Terra Gallery, Columbus, Ohio

Artwork Feed

Events Feed

Blog Feed