We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Ackerman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.
Laura, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I attended art school in the mid-70’s, with an all-male faculty- these people were in charge of my career: and in the mid-70’s- there weren’t any collegiate rules on sexual harassment. So, mostly girls in an all-men environment- only a few of us were considered “talented”. I was made to apply for my Bachelor’s Degree 3 times: each turn with the review board was to see if my body of work was qualified enough for a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts (the degree I wanted). Long story short, I failed to impress the panel of men three times, and received my Bachelor’s of Art.
After I graduated, I swore to myself that I was never going to give up on my painting, or myself, and I was not going to listen to the opinions of “the academics” any more. Still here in 2025!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m Laura Ackerman, part of a two person consortium here in Scottsdale, AZ. We are “The Adam and Laura Show”- posting daily on Instagram. My personal story varies quite separately from Adam’s- I went to three art schools, learned about graphic/web design, wrote an awesome Master’s Thesis about Computer Interfaces and Semiotics, and moved from Seattle, WA (my home), to Austin, TX and then Scottsdale.
I am always painting something: I love nature, design, mythological stories- I do what I want when I want to do it- I’m lucky enough not to make a living from my art, because I don’t want to be beholden to current taste’s and styles. I love to excitement when I bring home a blank canvas, and just look at it for a while. I let it talk to me gently.
Our brand? What is exciting is that both Adam and I are always producing something fun and creative-you may not like everything we do, but more’s always coming.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think all students of the arts should look at art history very carefully: studying the techniques of the greats, and learning about the time period and culture they were born into.
Secondly, go outside! I have spent afternoons on my porch just looking and examining tree branches, flower pods, vegetable clusters, etc.- the natural structures of the environment around us has its own special design and geometric placement- using your eyes and really looking has been so helpful to me.
Lastly, I would say to a young artist to hold onto their own unique vision: be who you are! It’s so seductive to try and copy the “latest new thing”, but a long art career depends on keeping to your own integrity.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents were academics, and as a teenager, I thought they were horribly weird. Looking back on it, having both parents who were cultural anthropologists introduced me to all kinds of people: I spent summers with various Native American tribes and also Alaskan Natives near the Kuskokwim river. As a kid, I got hang out, and participate in seal hunts and salmon drying lodges, and had so much fun!
I think this exposure made me very interested in world cultures, and it shows up in my paintings occasionally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theLauraandAdamShow.com
- Instagram: The Laura and Adam Show
Image Credits
All images by Laura Ackerman (2012-2024)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
