The Good Neighbor - Laura Petrovich Cheney

Size: 76 x 76 cm

Medium: Wood 

My neighbor had seriously injured himself. At the time, no one in his house was there to help or to accompany him to the hospital. By some miracle, my other neighbor, had walked by and noticed the ambulance. My injured neighbor asked him to call his family and relay the news of this sudden trip to the ER. Through this act of kindness, my injured neighbor was able to meet his wife at the hospital and she was able to further advocate for her husband with the team of doctors. Life is undoubtedly difficult. But in my experience, neighbors and friends can make my small piece of the world a wonderful, kinder place to live.

Laura Petrovich-Cheney:

Laura Petrovich-Cheney transforms wood scraps into mesmerizing works of art. Trained as a fashion designer, painter and sculptor, she brings her expertise to create stunning geometric compositions from simple rectangles and triangles. Her creations exude luminosity and depth. They evoke imagery ranging from stained glass windows to intricate lattices, offering glimpses into unseen worlds beyond their surfaces.

Some of Laura's artworks draw you in like whirlpools, with their intricate patterns captivating viewers. Others hold onto their secrets, wrapped in mystery like the closed shutters of summer homes. These wall sculptures possess a unique dynamism, their rigid structures interplaying with undulating waves, uneven heights, and surfaces bearing the marks of time. In their essence, they echo the monumental potential of textiles, while simultaneously celebrating the intimacy found within the most ordinary of building materials.

Her recent sculptures spark conversations about individual and environmental concerns, drawing inspiration from feminism and traditional women's arts like needlework, weaving and quilting. Laura's artistic process involves repurposing discarded materials, searching for the stories they hold about personal histories, identity, and humanity.

Much of the wood Laura uses comes from her experiences living through Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. Some pieces are sourced from home renovations or simply discarded furniture found on the street. Regardless of their origins, she infuses these materials with new life, finding meaning and purpose in their transformation. Stories of attachment, love, loss, and broken homes are woven into her art, creating narratives of healing and second chances that resonate on both personal and universal levels.

Laura exhibits her work nationally, both in solo and group shows, at prestigious venues like The Toledo Museum of Art, Berea College, and the Boston Children's Museum. She has received grants from esteemed organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Park Service, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Laura has participated in artist residencies at institutions like the Society of Arts and Crafts and the Vermont Studio Center. In recognition of her talent, she was awarded the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship in Sculpture in 2017, followed by the Artist Fellowship in Crafts from the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2021. Laura holds a BA in Fine Arts and English Literature from Dickinson College, an MS degree in Fashion Design from Drexel University, and an MFA in Studio Arts from Moore College of Art and Design.

About the Gallery:

Folly and Muse was established in 2015 in London to find and collaborate with the most creative, talented, emerging and mid-career artists from all around the world. Folly & Muse (since 2019 in Munich) has made it their mission to curate unique works of an exceptional quality and bring them to savvy contemporary art collectors with an eye out for abstract and figurative paintings, photography and sculptural works of art.