LAUREN B. WARD

b. 1992 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island

EDUCATION 

2023 – Current           A.B. Visual Arts | Brown University | Providence, RI

2021 – 2023                Psychology & Nursing | Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe, NM 

2012 – 2017                BFA (incomplete) | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, Il

2011 Painting Intensive | Pacific Northwest College of Art | Portland, OR

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025                              Blessed Mama | List Art Center | Brown University | Providence, RI

2015                              What are you doing Wednesday |  Red Kiva Gallery | Chicago, IL

                                         Peace be with the spirits of the night | 1629 Kimball Ave | Chicago, IL

              Tug of War | Eely’s Gallery | Chicago, IL

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025                              Boston-Wide Art Gallery | Harvard University | Boston, MA

                                         Dear Survivor | Sexual Assault Awareness Month Art Exhibition | Sojourner House | Providence, RI 

                                         It’s Still Life | Drawing Class Exhibition | Brown University | List Art Center | Providence, RI

                                         Brown University 45th Annual Student Exhibition | Curated by Abdu  Ali & Falaks Vasa | Granoff Center for the Creative Arts | Providence, RI

                                         Psychic Smorgasbord | Sculpture Class Exhibition | Brown University | List Art Center | Providence, RI

2024                              (Re)Group | Brown University Spring Festival of Dance | Ashamu Dance Studio | Providence, RI

2016                              Loves Lost | Flat Iron Gallery | Chicago, IL

2015                              Do it yourself | Sass House | Chicago, IL

              Hell House | Sass House | Chicago, IL

2014                Whore dialogue | The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Summer Performance Festival | Chicago, IL

2013                 Art Bash | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Student Gallery | Chicago, IL

              Chew on it | Defibrillator Gallery | Chicago, IL

AWARDS | RESIDENCIES

2025             Barbara Grandis Artist Residency | Creative Reuse Center of Rhode Island | Providence, RI 

              Second Place Winner | Brown University 45th Annual Student Exhibition | Providence, RI 

                                         Marlene Malik Sculpture Award | Materials Grant | Brown University | Providence, RI

2021 – 2023             Presidential Scholar | Santa Fe Community College | Santa Fe, NM

2012 – 2017             Distinguished Merit Scholar | School of the Art Institute | Chicago, IL

2011             Presidential Scholar | Pacific Northwest College of Art | Portland, OR

PRESS

2025                            Haruta, Devaney | Ward, Lauren | Circle of Life, Circle of Love | Piano  (de)composition (March 2025)

              Shi, Summer | 45th Annual Student Exhibition showcases bold, experimental works in Granoff Center | The Brown Daily Herald (March 2025)

2024                              Nesmith, Naomi | I’m not going to lower my expectations| The Indy (October 2024)

2023                              Everly, Laura | Empowering Single Mothers Through Education | Working Nation (September 2023)

RELATED EXPERIENCE

2025 (upcoming)       Digital Media Studio Monitor | Brown University | Providence, RI

2025 – Current           Departmental Undergraduate Group Leader | Visual Arts | Brown University | Providence, RI

  • Meet and plan programming to create a sense of community within the department.

  • Help students make and strengthen connections with other VISA concentrators, faculty, and alumni.

  • Promote events and create alliances among the wider Providence art community.

              Sexual Assault Prevention Education Coordinator | Brown University | Providence, RI

  • Lead SAPE’s educational efforts, plan events, and train new members.

  • Attend weekly coordinator meetings and bi-weekly all-SAPE meetings

  • Develop and discuss new strategies to grow and nurture

Reflecting Pool Survivor Advocacy Contributor  | Braver Collective

2025               Student Parent Advocacy Alliance Certification | 15th Annual Generation Hope Conference | Washington, D.C.  

2024 Brown Art Review Winter Art Fair Contributor | Brown University | Providence, RI

2023 – 2025   Sexual Assault Prevention Education Facilitator | Brown University | Providence, RI

  • Co-facilitate SAPE workshops 1-2 times a semester, educating various groups at Brown about ways to create and support a culture of consent.

  • Develop and publicize content to raise awareness, prevent harm, and support survivors.

  • Engage in a supportive, accountable, and values-driven community. 

2015 – 2016                 Art Teacher | Youth Service Project Summer Program | Chicago, IL

  • Provided engaging art instruction and care for Humboldt Park’s youth during the summer, a critical time for families who don’t have childcare while school is out.

  • Developed projects that inspired creativity and made art accessible to all students.

2007 – 2012                 Tilesetting | Sean Ward Tile Work | Portland, OR

  • Cut,  set, and grouted tile in exquisite arrangements as directed by my father, who was a third-generation tile setter.