Nancy Staub Laughlin: Master of Assemblage, Pastel, and Photography

Nancy Staub Laughlin is an acclaimed artist who has revolutionized the concept of the still life and landscape through her innovative assemblage technique. Based in New Jersey, Laughlin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and has spent decades refining a process that merges the precision of photography with the expressive depth of soft pastels on paper. Her work is characterized by the juxtaposition of "nature vs. glitter," where she integrates elements of the natural world—such as floral petals, seascapes, and wintery scenes—with reflective objects like jewels, crystals, and beads. This distinctive style, which she calls "assemblages," results in multi-layered compositions that invite the viewer into a world defined by luminosity, dimension, and meticulous detail. Nancy Staub Laughlin often begins her process by creating "perceptive stills" using photography, which then serve as the foundation or a reference point for her intricate pastel drawings. The interplay between the two mediums allows her to capture a unique "glow and sparkle," leading art critics like Sam Hunter to describe her work as "refreshingly unique." Throughout her career, Nancy Staub Laughlin has received significant critical acclaim and numerous prestigious awards, including the Homiens Art PrizeHer art is held in many private and public permanent collections, including the New Jersey State Museum and the Zimmerli Art Museum. With exhibitions across major galleries in New York and the Northeastern United States, her work continues to resonate for its ability to transform everyday moments of light and reflection into monumental visual stories. By focusing on the magnificence of the natural world through a different perspective.