Lauren is a CFS participant who loves art because it’s about more than just about drawing and painting. For her, it’s a way to express the things she loves, connect with other people, and keep trying new things.
Lauren’s creative journey has taken her through several different spaces. She creates at YAI Arts, three days a week, where she develops her studio practice, while also collaborating with Summertime Gallery
on projects and exhibitions. She first began artistic pursuits with Summertime during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when projects were initially held virtually. Today, much of this creativity takes place in person, giving her more opportunities to collaborate, exhibit her work, and connect with other artists.
For Lauren, Summertime Gallery has become more than a place to show her artwork. It’s evolved into a community where she feels as celebrated as she is welcomed.
“I found my place,” Lauren said of her experience with Summertime. “It felt like the right fit.”
Lauren has especially enjoyed contributing to Double Scoop, Summertime’s creative newsletter, where artists share writings, drawings, videos, and other creative work. For Disability Pride Month, she created a comic about her own experiences and what Summertime means to her.
One of her memorable collaborative projects was a puppet show she produced with Priscilla from Summertime. Lauren created a Taylor Swift (since Taylor is her favorite singer) out of paper mache, cardboard, paint, and yarn —and the performance included a song about Lauren’s life experience. She was so happy to experience people responding to her work.
Her artwork is also finding its way into the wider New York community. One of her drawings, including her dog Rosie, is part of a larger mural at the Jay Street–MetroTech subway station through a collaboration with the MTA.
Now, Lauren is preparing for an exciting new chapter. In 2027, she will have her first solo show at Summertime Gallery in Brooklyn! As part of a three-month residency leading up to the exhibition, she has been given the space and supplies to create new works, and the opportunity to put together an exhibition for the public to see.
She says that she is looking forward to creating new art and hopes to collaborate with others along the way. And while Lauren would eventually like to have a career in art, perhaps as an art mentor, she is just as interested in continuing to learn, create, and try new things.
Lauren also loves traveling and exploring new places. Her real dream destination is Tokyo, where she would like to visit the Nintendo headquarters, Tokyo Disney, and the new Pokémon theme park. Still, back home, she finds other destinations and things to love and explore. She is passionate about art exhibitions, museums, and is a big New York Liberty fan. She hopes the team might one day reach out about a collaboration.
Through CFS, Lauren continues to receive support as she explores her interests and takes on new experiences. “Everyone at CFS has been really nice and helpful,” she says.
For Lauren, there is clearly more to come. She wants to keep making art, sharing it, and discovering what comes next. And with a solo exhibition already on the horizon, she has plenty to look forward to!
