Nancy Staub Laughlin is a New Jersey-based visual artist who has built a distinctive voice in contemporary art through her imaginative fusion of pastel drawing and photography. With a practice rooted in elegance, patience, and innovation, Nancy’s assemblages transcend traditional boundaries, inviting viewers into worlds that shimmer with light, depth, and emotional resonance.
A graduate of Moore College of Art, Nancy has spent decades refining a technique that is uniquely her own—one that marries the softness of pastels with the realism of photographic imagery. Her creations are not simply artworks; they are immersive environments that transform perception and celebrate the beauty found in nature’s details.
The Assemblage Technique: A Unique Artistic Language
At the heart of Nancy’s practice is her self-developed concept of the assemblage—a multi-layered process that integrates pastel on paper with mounted photographic elements. This technique is much more than a stylistic choice; it is a philosophical and sensory approach to seeing and re-seeing the world around us.
Nancy describes her work as “a culmination of many carefully executed steps,” each deliberate and essential. The process begins with a hand-rendered pastel drawing, which often lays the emotional and chromatic foundation of the piece. Photographs—taken by the artist herself—are then printed, cut, and carefully arranged over and around the drawing to heighten the composition’s texture, depth, and dimensionality.
The final result is a hybrid creation: one that hovers between the ethereal and the tangible. These works often evoke dreamlike vistas, radiant with light and steeped in tranquility, while simultaneously grounded in the physicality of layered materials.
Artistic Themes: Nature, Transformation, and Illumination
Nancy’s work is driven by an ongoing fascination with nature—not merely its outward appearance, but the emotional and metaphysical presence it holds. Her pieces radiate with natural beauty, yet they are not literal representations. Instead, they reinterpret reality through an imaginative lens that encourages introspection and wonder.
This reinterpretation is particularly evident in works like The Elegance of the Storm (32 x 45 inches, pastel on paper with mounted photographs), where tension and serenity coexist. The piece pulses with atmospheric energy, capturing both the majesty and fragility of a passing storm. With her characteristic use of color and texture, Nancy creates a visual poem—one that suggests the duality of nature and the silent narratives it holds.
Each assemblage can be seen as a moment of meditation—a pause from the noise of the world, offering viewers a space for reflection and sensory engagement.
Critical Acclaim and Recognition
Over the course of her career, Nancy Staub Laughlin has garnered significant recognition for her artistic contributions. Her work has been exhibited at notable institutions including the New Jersey State Museum and the Carter Burden Gallery in New York. These prestigious showings reflect her growing prominence in the contemporary art world and the increasing demand for her distinct visual language.
In addition to solo and group exhibitions, Nancy’s work has been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, Gallery and Studio, and Vue Magazine. Critics and art historians alike have taken note of her originality and commitment to craft. The renowned art historian Sam Hunter described her work as “refreshingly unique,” highlighting her innovative spirit and evocative style.
One of her most significant accolades came with a solo exhibit at the New Jersey State House—an honor that underscored her role as a cultural figure within the state’s artistic landscape.
Collections and Legacy
Nancy’s artworks are held in both public and private collections, reflecting their wide-ranging appeal and enduring relevance. Collectors are drawn not only to the aesthetic beauty of her pieces but also to the thoughtfulness embedded in every layer. Each work tells a story—of process, of place, and of the artist’s relationship with the natural world.
Her legacy continues to grow as more curators, critics, and collectors recognize the unique position she holds in today’s art scene. With every new series, Nancy pushes the boundaries of her medium while remaining true to her central themes of light, nature, and transformation.
Beyond the Canvas: A Continued Journey
What sets Nancy Staub Laughlin apart is not just her mastery of materials, but her unwavering dedication to exploration. While many artists find a style and settle into it, Nancy continues to experiment—refining her process, expanding her visual vocabulary, and embracing new challenges.
She approaches each piece with curiosity and reverence, treating the artistic process as both a craft and a form of spiritual engagement. This commitment infuses her work with authenticity, making each piece feel both intimate and universal.
As she continues to create and exhibit, Nancy’s work invites us to slow down, to observe more closely, and to find beauty in unexpected places. Her art reminds us that transformation—of materials, of perception, of experience—is always possible.
Experience the Work
To witness Nancy Staub Laughlin’s assemblages is to step into a world where light dances, color hums, and nature is refracted through the lens of imagination. Each piece is a visual conversation between softness and structure, abstraction and realism, solitude and connection.
