Interview
Laura McCarthy
Laura McCarthy is a visual artist based in the Okanagan, working primarily in charcoal, large-scale painting, and digital media. A graduate of the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she developed a practice rooted in both traditional and contemporary mediums. Her passion for art began in childhood and has since evolved into a dedicated creative career. Though drawn to the shadowy and strange, Laura maintains a deep appreciation for all forms of art, from classical to contemporary. Her approach to art-making is rooted in curiosity and compassion, with a strong interest in technique, experimentation, and the processes behind each piece. Laura’s work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Kelowna, Vernon, and Winnipeg, as well as in several independent businesses and galleries across the region. Her artistic interests lean toward the dark and surreal, often exploring eerie, emotionally charged themes. She draws inspiration from artists such as H.R. Giger, Zdzisław Beksiński, Francisco Goya, and Francis Bacon, whose influence can be felt in the expressive and unsettling nature of her own pieces.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I've been doing art as far as I can remember. I don't remember a specific time when I wasn't doing art. My grandpa was a big inspiration for art for me growing up because he was an artist himself, so growing up beside creative people made my passion for it grow even more. Surprisingly, though, I was terrified of scary things as a child. I wouldn't even walk past the Halloween animatronics in the stores because I would cry! But now I love anything and everything scary; it's my main inspiration for most things. I believe there's a form of fascination and beauty in horror that most people don't see.”
What inspires you?
“My inspirations come from horror movies, dark media, heavy metal and horror video games. They fuel my brain with so much imagination and ideas for drawings!”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Themes in my work are definitely dark and eerie. I want a reaction out of you because I believe that's an effective art piece. But I also want to encourage people to get close and personal with my art and to find fascination in it; just because it's scary doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I want people to feel familiarity with my work or resonate with it in some way. Why does this speak to you? And why do you feel the way that you do when you're looking at my work?”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is dark, aggressive, eerie and in your face. My works hold their own space and demand to be viewed.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My inspirations are definitely Zdzisław Beksiński, Francis Bacon, HR Giger, and Francisco Goya. I believe they are the pioneers of dark art.”
“My work is dark, aggressive, eerie and in your face. My works hold their own space and demand to be viewed.”
What is your creative process like?
“With a purely intuitive imagination, I'm constantly thinking about what to create next; my brain is like a machine of ideas. I like to go in with little to no plan at all in my paintings and drawings because I don't want to be restricted in my creative process. By doing this, things don't look perfect; they look slightly off or deformed, which is the best part about making something intuitively.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists are punks, rebels, and rule breakers of the world. We make a change with our art, we say something with our art, or we resonate with someone with our art. Without artists, this world would be nothing. Art will evolve no matter what, especially now in the time of AI. I truly think AI will never replace real artists; art will always prevail.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My recent exhibitions include: SopaFineArts Emerging Artist Wall (2024 - Current), Phonics Public Display Agency Kelowna (2025), Everything and Then Some UBCO (2025), Graduating Year-End Show -Matter of Time VISA 382: Advanced Practice in Media Arts Fina Gallery (2024), VISA 300 – Advanced Drawing Fina Gallery (2024) and Seeing Things, Part II Fina Gallery (2024).”
Website: www.lauramccarthyart.com
Instagram: @Laura.McCarthy.Art
