Cramped | Laurie M. Landry

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Laurie Landry, “Cramped,” 2024

(courtesy Laurie M Landry and THIS Gallery)

THIS Gallery is proud to announce Cramped, a solo exhibition by artist Laurie M. Landry. This thought-provoking collection features three monumental oil paintings that probe societal constraints, specifically exploring the proverbial “box” imposed on larger women.

In Cramped, Landry employs a representational style to portray Rubenesque figures in bold, tightly framed compositions that reveal only the torso and hands. This deliberate omission of the head invites viewers to look past individual identity and connect with the broader themes of anonymity and universality, capturing the emotional weight of societal expectations. The figures’ hands act as visual barriers, underscoring the boundaries imposed by external ideals and the discomfort of being confined within a narrow definition of beauty.

Landry’s work in Cramped speaks to the tension between self-expression and conformity. The rich colour palette and intentionally constrained compositions evoke both resilience and vulnerability, encouraging viewers to confront the complexities of identity, self-image, and societal expectation. The exhibition challenges perceptions and celebrates the strength inherent in resisting the “cramped” spaces imposed by external ideals.