February 27, 2025

Artist Lecture: 4:30 - 5:30pm

Reception: 5:30 - 7:30pm 

UMBILICAL OUROBOROS

recent works by LAUREN FRANCES EVANS

STATEMENT:

What is it to exist in the eternal loop of becoming—an origin and an ending bound together, endlessly repeating? The works in "Umbilical Ouroboros" explore the alchemical vessel of the maternal body and the broader human experience of birth, transformation, and rebirth. Rooted in the metaphor of the umbilical cord as a tether to the divine, these sculptures and images delve into the entanglements that define our connections to ourselves, others, and the ineffable beyond.

Through hands that grasp, pull, and strain—depicted in gestures of both holding and letting go—my work seeks to embody the liminal space between attachment and autonomy, creation and dissolution. These hands, central to so much of my practice, serve as proxies for my own search: scratching at the surface of unseen possibilities, holding tension between presence and absence, and gesturing toward something just out of reach.

At the heart of the exhibition is the ouroboros—the ancient symbol of a snake eating its own tail—reimagined here as an umbilical loop, a line of connection and creation that turns endlessly inward and outward. This cycle, which holds echoes of the Virgin Mary as both mother and sovereign self, suggests the simultaneous autonomy and entanglement of all things. It is the paradox of the maternal: to nurture and release, to create and consume, to belong entirely to oneself while being irrevocably tied to another.

Ultimately, these works explore what it means to dwell in the limbo of becoming, to hold the tensions of opposites, and to begin again, endlessly, in the alchemy of a conscious life.
 

BIO:

Lauren Frances Evans is an artist, educator, and advocate whose practice explores the visceral and liminal spaces of the human experience, often through the lens of maternal embodiment and alchemical transformation. She lives and works in Birmingham, Alabama, where she serves as Associate Professor of Art and Gallery Director at Samford University.

Evans holds an MFA from the University of Maryland and a BA from the College of Charleston. Her work has been supported by residencies at Franconia Sculpture Park, Elsewhere Living Museum, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Stay Home Gallery. In 2024, she participated in The Nature of Difference, an international artist residency in Mussoorie, India, hosted by Art for Change, a New Delhi-based organization.

In her local community, Evans collaborates with Studio By the Tracks, a nonprofit that supports adult artists on the autism spectrum. She partnered with the organization in 2024 to curate an exhibition for the Samford University gallery and is currently serving as its Artist-in-Residence. Additionally, she serves on the board of the Alabama Visual Arts Network, reflecting her dedication to fostering meaningful connections within the regional arts community.

Evans’ work is deeply shaped by her maternal experience, inherent mysticism, and neurodivergent identity. She creates sculptures, installations, and mixed media works that probe the tension between connection and autonomy, the seen and unseen, and the perpetual cycles of creation and transformation. Alongside her artistic practice, she and her husband operate Begin Again Goods, a small business that creates handcrafted items inspired by their shared creative vision. Together, they navigate the joys and complexities of family life with their two daughters, Agnes (8) and Edie (4).

To see more of Lauren’s work, visit www.laurenfrancesevans.com.