Biography
Laura J. Miller is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Cody, Wyoming, originally from the Boston area. She has a background in drawing and painting, with a MFA from the New Hampshire Institute of Art/Institute of Art and Design at New England College, where she was mentored by Craig Stockwell, Katie Bullock, Anna Von Mertens, and Joyce Yu-Jean Lee. Recently her practice has shifted to primarily working with fiber and textile-based mediums including quilts, felting, embroidery, dyeing fabric and crochet.
Miller has spent nearly two decades living overseas, where she accompanied her spouse, who was a Foreign Service Officer for the Department of State, during his work in several different countries. During this time she practiced her art and was inspired by the cultures, colors, and landscapes belonging to the people of whom she has been surrounded. Present in much of her work are concepts, stories, or questions about movement and crossing boundaries.
Miller was drawn to working with textiles through these experiences abroad, including classes she took in both weaving and batik from artists in Africa. She has now turned her focus to the art of quilting, mixing traditional and non-conventional materials, seeking to illustrate deeper meanings of comfort, family and craftsmanship. Drawing on the traditions and methods of craft, she approaches these materials with an aim to conceptually subvert and challenge societal expectations and rules through visual languages that have typically been coded as feminine or domestic.
Laura J. Miller CV
Solo Exhibitions
2020 Red Wall, Cody, WY
2014 U.S. Embassy La Paz Lobby Exhibition, La Paz, Bolivia
2012 Biblio Café Exhibition, Cody, WY
2012 Park County Library, Cody, WY
2012 Bank of the West, Cody, WY
2011 Cody Country Art League, Cody, WY
1994 In a Pig’s Eye, Salem, MA
Group Exhibitions
2024 SAQA WY group exhibition (8/24) Cheyenne, WY
2024 TAGY Group exhibition (9/24) Cody, WY
2024 TAGY Group exhibition (08/24) Powell, WY
2024 Pocket Utopia, New York, New York
2024 Painting in Cody Country Art League
2023 Presented in mini-exhibition, Cody, WY
2023 Presented in 8x8 Show Carbon County Art Guild, Red Lodge Montana
2021 Institute of Art and Design at New England College Alumni Exhibition
2020 MFA Thesis Exhibition, TBD (Canceled due to COVID-19)
2016 U.S. Embassy Craft Exhibition, Panama City, Panama
2017 U.S. Embassy Craft Exhibition, Panama City, Panama
2014 U.S. Ambassador's Residence Exhibition/Participation and Curation, La Paz, Bolivia
2013 Galeria Alternativa, Centro de Arte/ Women's History Month, La Paz, Bolivia
2012 Cody Country Art League, Cody, WY
2011 Stone Soup Studios/ Open Studios Exhibit, Cody, WY
2010 Rainforest Gallery, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
2009 Community Watercolor Exhibition, Antananarivo, Madagascar, Participation and Curation
2000 Massachusetts College of Art Student Photography Exhibition, Boston, MA
1993 Marblehead Arts Festival, Marblehead, MA
Education
MFA Visual Arts
Institute of Art and Design at New England College
June 2018 - June 2020, Manchester, NH
Mentors: Joyce Yu-Jean Lee, Anna Von Mertens, Katie Bullock, Craig Stockwell
MS Curriculum and Instruction, Oklahoma State University
January 1999-January 2002, Tulsa, OK
Certifications in Art and Special Education to 2026
BA Studio Arts
Salem State University
January 1991-January 1994, Salem, MA
Memberships and Organizations
Textile Artists of Greater Yellowstone, TAGY
Studio Art Quilt Associates, SAQA artist
WY and MT Local SAQA groups
Carbon County Arts Guild
Cody Country Art League
Light Has No Enemies, LHNE Artist Collective
3 Dog Rescue volunteer dog foster
Professional Development
2024 Investing in Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) Wyoming's Creative Economy Participant
2022 The Art of Education Professional Development for Art Teachers-15 credits
2021 The Crit Lab, led by Patricia Miranda, virtual
2021 Performance for Video: Manners and Techniques for Work on Camera: Online workshop taught by Jonathan Van Dyke, Pig Iron School, virtual
2020 The Crit Lab AltMFA, Led by Patricia Miranda and Gaby Collins-Fernandez, virtual
20-21 Caleco Foundry, Full-time work, Wax chasing, Spruing, and metal pouring, Cody, WY
2019 Federal Grant Management training, Frankfurt, Germany
2019 Cyber Security training, Department of State, U.S. Embassy, Cameroon
2013 Ceramics and Pottery classes at the studio of Mario Sarabia
2014 Art of Education National Art Education Conference, virtual
2015 Intermediate Spanish program, Ileri Spanish Institute, Panama City, Panama
2012 Spanish Language Training, U.S. Embassy La Paz, Bolivia
2011 Docent training at Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY
2009 TEACCH Autism Conference, Queensland, Australia
2007 International Education Conference, Montreal, Canada
2003 Regional Area Studies (West Africa), Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, Arlington, VA
2003 French Language Instruction, 24 week course, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, Arlington, VA
2003 Security Overseas, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, Arlington, VA
2003 Protocol for Diplomats, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, Arlington, VA
1995 Sign-Language training and Twi Language training, Peace Corps Ghana
1990 Commercial Photography classes, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
Awards and Grants
2024 Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) Participant: Investing in Wyoming's Creative Economy
2018 MFA Merit Scholarship
New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH (Now IAD at NEC)
2017 Professional Development Fellowship Grant recipient
2015 Embassy Community Service Award, U.S. Embassy Bolivia U.S. Department of State, Arlington, VA
2008 Cox Foundation Grant recipient
TEACCH Conference Queensland, Australia
2006 Ambassador Community Service Award, U.S. Embassy Mali
Certifications
Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board Licence
Endorsements in Art K-12 and Exceptional Specialist- Learning Disabilities K-12
Art Content Praxis score of 183 out of 200 (Sept 2022)
Oklahoma Department of Education Teacher Certification:
Art and Special Education (recertified until 2026)
Federal Government Secret Clearance
Federal Grants Officer Certification to manage federal grants up to $100,000
Awards and Grants
2018 MFA Merit Scholarship
New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH (Now IAD at NC)
2017 Professional Development Fellowship Grant recipient
2015 Embassy Community Service Award, U.S. Embassy Bolivia
2008 Cox Foundation Grant recipient
TEACCH Conference Queensland, Australia
2006 Ambassador Community Service Award, U.S. Embassy Mali
Memberships and Organizations
Textile Artists of Greater Yellowstone (TAGY)
Studio Art Quilt Associates, SAQA artist
WY and MT Local SAQA groups
Carbon County Arts Guild
Cody Country Art League
Light Has No Enemies, LHNE Artist Collective
3 Dog Rescue volunteer dog foster
Stay in Touch
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