Artist Biography

Laurie Mika is a native Californian, born in 1953, in Santa Monica. She has spent most of her life in Southern California with the exception of her travels abroad and is currently residing in Encinitas, California with her family. Laurie attended United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya for nearly two years in the early 70's. Laurie earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts from U.S.I.U. and continued on to graduate school at San Diego State University where she was enrolled in the Art History program.

While attending graduate school, Laurie worked in the Gallery at Bazaar Del Mundo in Old Town, San Diego. This work experience along with her education and extensive travels to places like India, Nepal, China, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Europe, Mexico and South America have all shaped the way her art looks today. There are definitely ethnic influences seen in her work. While having explored numerous mediums, her work retains a certain "look" that is unmistakable whether it be on canvas, furniture, masonite, wood or cloth.

Laurie has painted for as far back as she can remember but began doing commissioned paintings in the mid-1970's. She has many pieces hanging in residential settings. Since then her work has branched out embellishing a variety of surfaces but always retaining a certain geometric sensibility. More recently, Laurie has begun employing her own unique handmade tiles along with mosaics, beads, and jewelry to create "contemporary icons". These wall pieces reflect her interest in Byzantine art, Illuminated Manuscripts and Mexican folk art. These disparate sources of inspiration seem to find a home together in this very eclectic approach to surface design.

Aside from the many paintings and pieces of furniture that have been privately commissioned, Laurie has sold work at Trios Gallery in Solana Beach, Carlsbad Village Faire Gallery in Carlsbad and the Next Door Gallery in San Diego. She has also participated in many group shows including Designer's Workshop, Designer's Showcase, Carmel Valley Artists, Artwear, Artisans Del Mar, Talmadge Art Show, Art in the Burbs, Artwalk, and The Society of American Mosaic Artists show, Earth Elements, in Miami, Florida. Currently she is participating in an annual show, Dia de los Muertos, at The Next Door Gallery and at The ArtBar in Santa Ana, California.

Laurie was published in the premier issue of Expressions magazine. Recently her work was published in 2004 in, 400 Polymer Clay Designs, a Lark book and in New Techniques for Wearable Art by Rice Freeman-Zachery, published by Rockport in 2004.