We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Naomi Lawrence. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Naomi below.
Hi Naomi, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
After I installed my first large scale mural in 2019 I received an email through my website from a woman I did not know. What she shared with me will forever be my motivation to carry on. Directly across the street from the site is a nursing facility. Here is an excerpt from the email.
“… he was finally given a chance to move around the hospital in a wheelchair. We took him into the cafeteria where big glass windows opened up onto the beautiful flower, shining in the summer light — there it is, I pointed! His eyes contain all of his expressions now — and I could see that he loved it, too.
I cannot tell you how much this flower and your art means to me. It is everything I love about NYC and everything we need there. To have this beauty in view for the comfort and joy of my friend and all of the other patients, who are struggling with worlds shutting in on them, is such a gift. Thank you.”
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am originally from England and I’m now an American citizen. I trained in Floral Design at the London School for the Arts. In 2012 inspired by social media I explored yarnbombing before formalizing my public art practice.
I am a Harlem based fiber artist my installations are designed for the people who will interact with them daily. I work primarily with acrylic yarn to freeform crochet oversized 2-dimensional flowers, butterflies or other species not usually associated with city streets. The artworks are installed by sewing them onto chain-link fences in public parks or schools. They are made to live outdoors and add a layer of color and texture to the urban landscape while highlighting subjects of importance or significance.
I love to work at a large scale simply because of the positive impact it has on people. People share what the flowers mean to them and this continues to motivate me to continue to evolve my artistic practice.
Freeform crochet is the technique I have found works best to produce the flowers and forms of nature represented in my murals and I use traditional crochet stitches but use them as I go along rather than following a pattern. It’s similar to drawing or painting only with yarn as a tool.
Over the past 9 years I have designed and produced an average of 5 public art installations annually while maintaining a community-based practice that engages people on their own streets and sidewalks. My work has been funded by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone. I have also been commissioned by City Seminary of New York, Oversees Chinese Mission working in Partnership with Creative Sanctum & THINK Chinatown, the Endless Skein in Cold Spring and the Columbus Amsterdam BID along with private commissions.
The Jigsaw Nomad www.thejigsawnomad.com has recently produced a limited edition mini jigsaw of my crochet works and I am always open to large and small commission ideas.
My next large scale mural will be in Spring 2024 in East Harlem.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Lead with your heart and intuition and never think you are too old to start a new path.
Learn how to say no, but thank you. Its taken me a long time to learn when and how to say no especially if you are used to donating a lot of your time to unpaid (volunteer) work. Know your value and do not undervalue yourself.
Remain teachable.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Surrounding yourself with others who are either interested in the same things as you and also going through the same life stages has been my saving grace. It doesn’t mean I don’t find life hard sometimes but it does mean I am not alone. I am part of a monthly knit night that meets at a local cafe in Harlem, a thriving Womens group at a seminary where I am a resident artist, a Central Park moms group set up by a mom in the playground and close friends with many families from school (a Nyc public school in harlem). I also attend and serve at a local Episcopal church. I have 4 kids (2 in college and 2 in 2nd grade) and life is full & hectic most of the time. These friendships give me life and hold me up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.naomilawrence.com
- Instagram: @naomilawrence.art
- Facebook: naomiRAG
