“Thank You, Shadow, For Now I Am Free” Exhibition by Laura Buitrago
The peak of COVID-19 was a time of devastating loss worldwide—but for Laura Buitrago, it was also a time of rebirth and reimagining who she was and what she had to offer the world. The Colombia native had tried other things—among them being an au pair in France and working with students in Cambodia—which led her to pursue a master’s degree in international development in Madrid. That’s where it all fell apart for Buitrago, who formerly signed her work as Lajubu. “I was pretty disappointed in seeing the real world and how…
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The peak of COVID-19 was a time of devastating loss worldwide—but for Laura Buitrago, it was also a time of rebirth and reimagining who she was and what she had to offer the world.
The Colombia native had tried other things—among them being an au pair in France and working with students in Cambodia—which led her to pursue a master’s degree in international development in Madrid.
That’s where it all fell apart for Buitrago, who formerly signed her work as Lajubu. “I was pretty disappointed in seeing the real world and how things were handled, the primary motivations being political and economic and just not really caring about the actual locals.”
The pandemic hit during a visit with her family in South Florida, making it an ideal time for a reset. She recalls: “During my travels, I would always do sketching and writing, but I never considered that as an option [for a career].”
But Buitrago’s friends believed in her talent and encouraged her to pursue art. She began painting, discovering her style and her appreciation for the human form, and soon started to receive commissions that supplemented her income as a scenic painter for an Orlando-based immersive experience company.
Even more importantly, however, painting became a way for Buitrago to confront the “shadows”—which psychotherapist Carl Jung described as the inner world that we avoid and seek to hide from others—within herself and to find freedom from negativity and self-deprecation.
Buitrago’s work, which recently expanded into sculpture, has gotten noticed: a People’s Choice award from Orlando Museum of Art, a Curator’s Choice award from SOBO Art Gallery & Studio, a grant from United Arts of Central Florida and an Artist-in-Action residency at the Maitland Art Center.
Her exploration of her inner shadows culminated in a collection of works that will be featured in an immersive CityArts exhibition. Thank You, Shadow, for Now I Am Free will run from November 20 to December 13.
“I believe our shadows exist to show us we’re not free,” adds Buitrago. “I believe they’re here to inform us and not deter us. We decide how we treat their relationship. Are we victims of them, or are we going to be empowered by them?”
CityArts is located at 39 South Magnolia Avenue, Orlando. For more information, visit downtownartsdistrict.com. You can also visit laurabuitragoart.com to see the artist’s online gallery.
Written by Cheri Henderson
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