Lauren Starr; reclaiming our stories

2023, Oil on canvas, 125x150cm

Alanah Ellen Brand’s portrait subject is artist Lauren Starr the overall winner of the 2022 Bluethumb Art Prize; Australia’s richest art prize. In 2023 Starr spoke about her feelings of unworthiness in a Ted Ex talk when referencing winning the prize. Starr also spoke about her story and struggles of claiming the title ‘Artist’. Starr is a photographer currently creating a series of work about the forgotten stories of Australian women. Starr’s work is heavily influenced by literature and history conveyed through the array of objects placed alongside Starr in this portrait.

 This portrait began in Brand’s garage where she asked Starr to bring in items that were important to her for their sitting. The final painting features many of the items Starr uses across her photography practice arranged in a similar style to Starr’s own imagery. Brand wanted this portrait to present Starr as an artist who is resilient and unwavering in her attempts to present a side of history that was rarely documented or spoken about. Brand also wants to present Starr as resilient in her attempts to show others that they can choose who they want to be and reclaim their own stories.

Starr and Brand are both practicing artists living in regional Victoria (Bendigo). Both work as teachers to support their art careers and both have felt the need to justify their art practice and the title of ‘artist’. They believe the life of a regional female artist is often lined with self-doubt, however, they also think that the more society talks about our stories, the more art that is made about it, the more they realise that they’re allowed to take up space.