Print. Cut. Create. — A unique event featuring artist Lauren Cutts

North Texas-based artist, Lauren Cutts, blends surreal dreamscapes with raw emotional expression through smeared realism portraiture. After struggling with creative block during her undergraduate years, a pivotal moment came in 2022 when a professor encouraged her to “not be afraid to mess it up.” That advice led her to physically disrupt her own work, smearing carefully rendered images to confront perfectionism and control. Her vivid, symbolic oil paintings fuse saturated colors with realism, inviting viewers into imaginary worlds that reflect both healing and escape. Inspired by surrealism, folklore, and the emotional weight of the human gaze, her work is both personal and universal—evoking the beauty within the chaos.