Some artists discover their calling late. Laura Piquette never had to. At 43, she has spent her whole life as both an artist and a student of philosophy, and the two pursuits have grown together. Her early work appeared at RISD and at state art fairs throughout her youth, and she laid down her paintbrushes only to grow, to live, and to gather experience worth painting.
Piquette has lived in the United States all her life but has traveled widely, and that mix of deep roots and wide horizons shapes her work. She sees art as a quiet practice rather than a loud statement.
The Philosophy Behind the Brush
At the center of Piquette’s practice is a simple conviction: art, in its simplest nature, should bring subtle awareness to the viewer. She describes the experience as a spiritual awakening journey, one that can be perceived in many different ways. There is no single correct reading of her work, and she prefers it that way. A piece should meet each viewer where they are.
To make that possible, Piquette uses a form of symbolism adapted to American culture. Instead of relying on obscure iconography, she draws on images and ideas familiar to the people she hopes to reach, capturing the essence of a notion in a form that feels intuitive. Her bright colors and deliberate simplicity serve the same goal. When a composition is uncluttered, the viewer’s own intuition has room to work.
The Work: Eight Goldfish on Six Sheets of Mulberry Paper
Piquette’s latest piece is painted across six sheets of mulberry paper, a thin, handmade paper with a delicate, almost translucent character. The medium is as demanding as it is beautiful. Mulberry paper can disintegrate under a careless stroke, so every mark must be made with patience and control. Achieving vivid, saturated color on a surface this fragile is a feat of technique, and the piece carries the quiet tension of that effort.
The result is a luminous work in which bright color and simple form do exactly what Piquette intends: they invite an intuitive response before analysis begins. The six-panel format gives the composition rhythm and movement, with each sheet contributing to a larger whole.
Eight Goldfish, Eternal Value
The subject is a school of eight goldfish, and the number is deliberate. In the artist’s symbolic language, the eight goldfish represent eternal value, a lasting kind of prosperity that goes beyond the momentary. Fish have long been associated with abundance and good fortune, and goldfish carry that association vividly, both in their color and in their graceful, unhurried movement.
The piece grows out of the idea of abundance in feng shui, the practice of arranging space to encourage balanced and harmonious energy. Whether a viewer approaches the work as a believer in feng shui or simply as someone who appreciates beauty, the message reads clearly: abundance is something to be welcomed, cultivated, and kept present in daily life.
A Natural Accent for the Abundance Corner
For those who practice feng shui, the work has a practical dimension. It is designed as an accentuation piece for the abundance area of the home, the space traditionally associated with wealth, prosperity, and gratitude. Placing an artwork devoted to this theme there offers a daily visual reminder of the intention behind the space.
Even for collectors who do not follow feng shui, the piece works as a calm, colorful focal point. Its simplicity lets it settle into a range of interiors, and its bright palette brings warmth and energy to a room without overwhelming it. It is a work meant to be lived with, not just looked at.
Why It Matters
In a visual culture crowded with noise, Piquette’s work makes a quiet argument for slowing down. Mulberry paper forces her to work slowly. Simple symbols ask the viewer to look slowly. And the idea of eternal value asks all of us to reconsider what we are really pursuing.
Piquette returns to the canvas after years of living, traveling, and thinking, carrying the same philosophical curiosity that has driven her since youth. Eight Goldfish is a thoughtful continuation of that journey: delicate in material, bold in color, and generous in meaning.
About the Artist
Laura Piquette is a 43-year-old American artist and philosophical thinker whose work has been shown at RISD and at state art fairs. Her practice uses symbolism adapted to American culture, bright color, and simplicity to inspire subtle awareness and spiritual reflection.
