Lauren Webber

Lauren’s practice uses her life as a platform for analyzing the history of societies, as well as art history through the prism of feminism and anti-imperialism. Having moved to live in Zimbabwe in 2014, the negotiation of polarities of culture, society and history between USA and Zimbabwe has provided a rich source of material for analysis of the history of West’s engagement with Africa (present and historical), as well as a person passage and a reconnection on identity as a constantly evolving construct. Currently, Webber uses her fine art training to create digital collages, printed with archival inks onto stretched canvas. Titled “Untamed”, Webber’s present body of work explores the nuances of female imagery and aims to create a mythology for her remixed female characters. Her collages explore strong female identities and build worlds for them to move into. Drawing upon thousands of source images, some are handmade then digitally treated; and, others are appropriated from open internet sources. Webber uses her visual language to critique and explore patriarchal power structures. The result is a complicated and layered remix of Shona (Zimbabwean) and American culture, paying homage to both societies’ historical roots.