I create to understand what I feel - shaping experience into something visible, human, and real.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Self-portraiture is the art I return to most. It allows me to blur the line between subject and creator, using my own body to explore emotion, memory, and change. I’m drawn to its honesty—how it captures both vulnerability and strength, and transforms fleeting inner states into something visual, lasting, and felt.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in introspection, nature, and the subtle details of everyday life. Light, texture, and the body guide my work, along with emotional states that are often difficult to articulate. I’m drawn to creating images that hold a feeling - something both intimate and universal.
What would you do with $25,000?I would create a deeply intentional series that pushes my work further, both conceptually and visually. The funds would support time, space, and resources to fully realize it, as well as opportunities to exhibit and share the work in a meaningful way.
Vote for Laura Pedersen to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Register now for your opportunity to appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display your artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.