Laurence Chandler

“As an artist, I am inspired by the complete freedom of the abstract form. I create contemporary mixed-media and acrylic paintings, working in an expressive, abstract manner. I start with no pre-conceived idea of what the end result will be. This is a spontaneous process (a personal journey of discovery) that I enjoy, and until I make that first mark on the canvas or paper, I don’t always know what colors or shapes I’ll use, which adds an authentic, honest and organic layer to my work. Using traditional bristle brushes and less conventional tools -- from spray bottles and combs to kitchen utensils -- my signature style emphasizes improvisational techniques and jazz-like expressionistic use of color, line, form, texture, numbers or words and space to represent things that are not visual such as an emotion, sound, place, event or spiritual experience.

A somewhat less prominent, but no less fascinating component of my paintings is the contrasting sides of the canvases. I paint patterns on sides of the canvas, designs approximately one to three inches thick, giving a full 180-degree experience with each painting.”

B.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, 1968

M.Ed., Coppin State College, Baltimore, MD, 1976

My creative talent and passion for art has afforded me opportunities in both the private and public sectors, and in business as a commercial art gallery owner. Today, I am a full-time, self-employed fine artist and work from my home-studio in Lanham, Md (Prince George’s County) -- a suburb of Washington, DC.

My works are in private and public collections nationwide. I have exhibited at galleries in the Washington, DC-metro area, Memphis, TN, and Oakland, CA. My portfolio includes commissions for private and corporate clients. In 2019, I was commissioned to create seven five-by-four-foot works (three pieces from my “Encryptions” series and four pieces from my “Sgraffito” series) for the grand lobby of The Hotel at the University of Maryland, College Park, Md. In 2011, I had the honor of being featured in The American Art Lover’s Magazine Guide to Collecting Fine Art in Washington, D.C., and Mid-Atlantic States. In 2020, several of my originals were featured on a BET HER short film directed by celebrity Kim Fields. In 2022, a solo exhibition of my work was showcased at MGM National Harbor.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Juried Show, Annapolis, Md., May 2015
Traveling Civil Rights Exhibition/ Martin County Art Center, N.C. / 2/15
Strathmore Hall Art Center, Juried Member Artists Show, 1/15/ Bethesda, Md.
MICA Art Market 2014, Baltimore, Md., Dec. 10-13 2014
BlackRock Art Center, Germantown, Md., Juried Show, August, 2014
Artdc Art Gallery, Hyattsville, Md., Juried Show, July 2014
Riversdale House Museum, Juried Show, Riverdale, Md./ May 2014
WACA Gallery/ Juried Show / Odenton, MD. May 2014
Prince Georges Community College, Juried Show, Landover, Md., May 2014
House of Delegates, Annapolis, Md., Juried Show, March 2014.
Strathmore Hall Art Center / Juried Group Show / Bethesda, MD / March 2014
Bowie City Hall / Bowie, Md. / Juried Exhibition / Jan. 2014
M-NCPPC / MD House of Delegates Juried Show/ Annapolis , MD/ Jan. 2014
MICA Art Market, Balt., Md., Dec. 2013
Capitol Arts Network Juried Exhibition, Rockville ,Md. , Nov. 2013
City of Bowie Juried Exhibition, Bowie, Maryland, Oct.-Dec. 2013.
Meeting House Gallery Group Show, Columbia, Md. May-July, 2013
Laurel Art Guild Juried Show, Montpelier Art Center, Laurel, Md. , March 2013,
Bowie Senior Center, Solo Exhibition, Jan.-Feb. 2013, Bowie, Md.
Strathmore Hall Arts Center, "Points of View Show", Jan. 2013, Bethesda, Md.
City of Bowie Juried Exhibition, Bowie, Maryland, 10/2012
(E)merge Exhibition, Wash. Project for the Arts, Wash. DC, Sept. 2012
Solo Show, WSSC Gallery, Laurel, MD., 8/ 2012
The Power of Color IV , Juried (Hon. Mention), Gallery West, Alex., VA., 8/ 2012
Solo Show, WSSC Gallery, Laurel, MD., 2/2012
"All Hung Group Exhibition" Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD., 1/2012.
Art Market at MICA, Baltimore, MD., 12/2011
Annual Patuxent Art League Juried Show, Laurel, MD., 12/2011
Solo Show, WSSC Gallery, Laurel, MD., 9/2011
"Power of Color" Juried Show, Gallery West, Alexandria, VA, 8/2011
"MiniSolos" Juried Show, Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DC., 7/2011
Annual Alumni Exhibition, MICA, Baltimore, MD., 5/2011
15th Annual National Juried (2nd Place) Gallery West, Alexandria, VA., 3/2011
Metropolitan Home Show, Washington National Harbor, 3/2011
Laurel Art Guild 42nd Annual Juried Show, Laurel, MD., 2011
MICA Health Center Exhibition, Baltimore, MD., 2/2011
Featured Artist, MICA/Jet Blue Exhibit, Washington/Reagan Airport, 2010
Foundry Gallery, ongoing featured artist, Washington, DC., 2010
Solo Show, Slayton House Art Gallery, Columbia, MD., 2010
Laurel Art Guild Juried Show (award), Laurel, MD., 2009
Group Show, Brenda Joysmith Art Studio, Memphis, TN
Patuxent Art Guild Juried Show (award), Laurel, MD., 2007
Group Show, Thelma Harris Art Gallery, Oakland, CA., 2007 & 2008
Laurel Art Guild Juried Show (award), Laurel, MD, 2006
Featured Artist, The Graham Collection, Washington, DC., 2006
Featured Artist, Gallery Serengeti, Largo, MD, 2006
Annual Fall exhibition, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD., 2005
Exhibitor, Magical Montgomery Festival, Silver Spring, MD, 2005
The Strathmore Hall Art Center, Bethesda, MD, juried shows 2004, 2005 & 2006
One-Man Show, Graphiti Gems Art Gallery, Silver Spring, MD, 2004 & 2005


SELECTED COMMISSIONS & COLLECTIONS:

Commission, mixed-media original, “InnerVisions” series, private collection, Silver Spring, MD., 2005

Commission, four mixed-media originals, permanent collection at private law firm, Silver Spring, MD, 2005

Commission, two mixed-media original companion works to “Jubilee” by the late artist John Biggers, for the Office of U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Wash., D.C., 2005.

Commission, art for reception and conference room, private law firm, Silver Spring, MD., 2006

Commission, family abstract, private collection, Rockville, MD., 2009

Commisson, Mixed Media companion work, private collection, Timmonium, Md., 2011

Commission, 60” x 48” original on canvas “ By Sun & Southern Wind II," private collection, Reston, VA, 2011

Commission, private collector, acrylic on canvas, 48"x72", July 2013, Columbia,Md..

Commission, private collector, acrylic on canvas, 30" x 48", May 2014,
Baltimore, Md.

Additional works in private collections throughout the United States including Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and California.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & INTERVIEWS:

"Lanham Artist's Work on Display at WSSC Headquarters," Gazette.Net (Maryland community news online), 8/2012

"Art Lover's Guide to Collecting Fine Art in Washington, DC., and Mid-Atlantic States," American Art Collector Magazine, 3/2011

"Three Galleries Feature Lanham Artist," Prince George's Sentinel Newspaper, 8/2011

"Lanham Artist's Abstracts Featured at Reagan National Airport, Prince George's Sentinel Newspaper, 2/2011

"The Suite List! Holiday Gift Guide for 2011," Prince George's Suite Magazine, 2011

contemporary abstract art, laurence chandler, washington, dc, abstract, abstract expressionistic art, fine art