At Home with Artist Laurie Maun

Laurie’s work, which currently has a focus on painted pieces, has a strong visual language based on beautifully chosen colour combinations, and minimal yet intentional forms which sit confidently on the canvas. We spoke about her creative process, and where she begins when embarking on a new body of work. She told Böhm that her use of colour is often shaped by the season, and her current state of mind. The forms themselves are drawn from more tangible sources: fragments of her everyday life, such as glimpses of architecture, elements of nature, or other passing details. She also keeps an ever-expanding collection of self-mixed paint swatches, which she revisits at the very start of each new collection. Such a process results in honest pieces which feel truly harmonious.

Prior to her artistic practice as it exists today, Laurie spent seven years building her career as a textile designer, freelancing for various fashion companies while running her own homeware brand. Laurie reflects on this era of her professional and personal life:

“I loved that chapter and still miss it, but I wasn’t creatively fulfilled. I wanted to challenge myself, learn new skills, and explore different mediums, but living and working in London made that difficult. Now, I feel fortunate to have the space for my work to evolve naturally and without compromise.”

Creativity, and one’s ability to create freely, is always in dialogue with the idea of ‘place’, as Laurie touches on here. At the scale of the city, this ability is shaped by pace, culture, and lifestyle. Yet, just as powerful perhaps, is the influence of home. The atmosphere, light and intimacy of four walls can either distract from or provide the environment needed for ideas to unfold. The home, and the way that we design our most intimate spaces, can have a profound impact on the way we feel. Laurie spoke to this idea, in the context of how the design of her home works hand-in-hand with her creative practice. She describes a preference for her surroundings to be an intentional “blank canvas”, allowing her artwork to take centre stage.  

Similarly, her home is a beautifully curated, tranquil, and tactile space. Upon entering the home, you feel a sense of serenity which is created by the earthy colour pallet, intentional furniture curation, and is complimented by sunlight dancing through the curtains from the leafy street beyond. 

Many of the rooms in Laurie’s home feature her own artwork. We spoke about how, as an artist, she goes about choosing a piece of art for her space. The displaying of a piece within her home, she explains, is actually a part of her artistic process.

“The artwork in my home changes nearly every week. I like to live with a piece for a while, letting it settle into the space, to decide whether it needs more work or is ready to sell.”

The pieces of art within the home range from large canvases to smaller pieces, each intentionally placed. The impact of art in a home helps to set the tone for the space on an aesthetic level, but also has an impact on the emotion created within the space. If you are choosing a piece of art for a room you are in daily, such as the bedroom or dining room, the emotional impact of the piece should be considered.

Chorlton itself has been part of Laurie’s life prior to this home. “I first lived in Chorlton while attending Manchester Art School 15 years ago, and after a period in London, I’ve always felt a pull to return.” We asked Laurie what some of her highlights of living in Chorlton are. “I like the people, the genuine community spirit, and the way it blends green spaces with city life.” 

Laurie also tells us about some of her favourite spots in the area, many of which are featured within our Area Guide to Chorlton, which can be read here. “My weekly go-tos are Unicorn and Lily’s. Every week, I take my son to Chorlton Library, which we both love. On weekends, we often visit Jane Eyre and Bar San Juan, our favorite local spots.”