Silent Spaces: Laurie Kennard at Artful Framer Studios

In a world that often feels busy, noisy, and uncertain, there is something powerful about finding a place where we can simply pause.

Silent Spaces, the latest exhibition at Artful Framer Studios, features the work of Chicago artist Laurie Kennard, whose oil and pastel paintings explore the quiet moments found in familiar places. A garden, a favorite room, a city street, a chair, or even the simple act of observing the world without participating in it can become a place of solitude and renewal.

Laurie describes the inspiration behind the exhibition:

“In these uncertain times, we need spaces where we can find solitude and solace. Spaces where we can replenish, alone or with others.”

That idea runs throughout the exhibition. Rather than depicting silence as emptiness, Laurie finds richness in these quieter moments. Her paintings invite us to slow down and notice the atmosphere of a place—the way light falls across a room, the glow of a window, the shadows beneath trees, or the warmth of a familiar space.

Finding beauty in light and shadow

Laurie's work is particularly interested in the relationship between light and shadow. Her paintings can feel intimate and atmospheric, often allowing areas of darkness to hold as much importance as the illuminated portions of a scene.

In one work from Silent Spaces, a row of dark, richly painted chairs sits beneath glowing windows. The warm light draws our attention into the scene while the surrounding shadows create a sense of quiet enclosure. There is a feeling that we have entered a space where we are welcome to sit, observe, and simply be.

Another painting depicts a quieter architectural setting filled with potted plants. Soft light moves across the steps and surrounding surfaces, while the greenery creates a sense of life and comfort. It feels less like a formal architectural study and more like a glimpse into a place someone might return to again and again.

These are the kinds of ordinary moments Laurie transforms into something worth lingering over.

From the city streets to quiet gardens

Laurie Kennard's paintings move between peaceful and active environments. Her work captures quiet side streets and gardens, while also acknowledging the energy and movement of the city.

This interest in observing the world around her is closely connected to Laurie's work as Director of Plein Air Painters Chicago (PAPC). She finds both painting outdoors and working in the studio equally engaging, bringing the same attention to observation, light, and atmosphere to both practices.

Her paintings remind us that a "silent space" doesn't necessarily have to be completely empty or isolated. Sometimes solitude can be found in the middle of a city. Sometimes it comes from sitting quietly in a familiar room. And sometimes being surrounded by other people can be its own form of replenishment.

A Chicago artist with a passion for observation

Laurie is a New Jersey native who holds degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is also an active student at the Old Town Art Center and the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts.

Her work has received numerous awards, including the People's Choice Award at the Plein Air Painters Chicago Annual Exhibition in 2022 and 2023, Top Three Non-Pro at Paint Carmel, Indiana in 2024, and an Honorable Mention at Evanston Plein Air in 2025.

Laurie credits several fellow Chicago artists as mentors, including Don Yang, Kathleen Newman, Errol Jacobson, and Eleanor Spiess-Ferris.

A place to pause

At Artful Framer Studios, we believe that art has the ability to change the feeling of a space and sometimes, simply to give us a reason to stop and look. Our gallery exists to provide a platform for local artists and to bring original artwork into the everyday spaces of our Chicago community. Silent Spaces feels particularly fitting for that mission. Laurie's paintings ask a simple but meaningful question:

Which silent space resonates with you?

Perhaps it's a favorite chair, a garden you've returned to many times, a quiet path, the view from a window, your favorite cafe, or a familiar corner of your own home. These seemingly small places can hold comfort, memory, and a sense of belonging.

We invite you to experience Silent Spaces in person at Artful Framer Studios and spend some time with Laurie's paintings. Take a moment to look closely at the light, the shadows, and the spaces between them.

Sometimes, the quietest places have the most to say.