• Resume

    Laura Spalding Best
    LauraEBest@gmail.com

    ARTIST RESUME

    Recent Solo Exhibitions
    2024 Upcoming, Moving Mountains, Phoenix, Arizona
    2021 Adrift, Walter Art Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
    2021 Surroundings, Pravus Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2019 Undercurrent, The Balcony at London Gold, Scottsdale, Arizona
    2019 Inundated, Stark Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2018 Vanity, Practical Art, Phoenix, Arizona
    2017 Intersections, MiraSol Community Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2016 Inferior Mirage, Chartreuse Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2014 7th Street to 7th Avenue, Hot Box Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona

    Recent Group Exhibitions
    2024 Artlink Art d’Core Gala, Curiosity Chapel, collaborative installation with Heidi Dauphin, Phoenix Art Museum
    2023 Saguaroland: Mapping the Sonoran Desert curated by Robrt Pela and KJZZ, Changing Hands Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2023 Diversity in the Desert: Expanding the Airport’s Art Collection Phoenix Airport Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
    2023 Creative Sustainability, Phoenix Airport Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
    2023 Artlink Artist Council Exhibition, Beacon, collaborative installation with Zach Valent, Park Central, Phoenix, Arizona
    2023 Abstract Athlete de Sarthe Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona
    2023 Abstract Athlete Gallery at Mountain Shadows, Paradise Valley, Arizona
    2023 EARTH & SKY Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, Arizona
    2022 Artlink Artist Council Exhibition, Collide, collaborative installation with Estevan Curiel, Park Central, Phoenix, Arizona
    2022 Imagine, Design, Build! i.d.e.a. museum Mesa, Arizona
    2021 Recent Acquisitions, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
    2021 Artlink 21st Annual Juried Exhibition, FOUND:RE, Phoenix, Arizona
    2021 ACE, Artlink Artist Council Exhibition, Mood Room, Phoenix, Arizona
    2021 Painting for the People, Savidan Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2020 Keepsakes, Practical Art, Phoenix, Arizona
    2020 Arizona Biennial, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
    2020 12 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Practical Art, Phoenix, Arizona
    2020 WoW: Women on Walls, Pravus Gallery, The Newton, Phoenix, Arizona
    2019 I Hear What You Are Seeing, Center Space Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
    2019 Control, Alt Create, NSAA, Tempe, Arizona
    2019 Weather or Not: Art With Atmosphere, i.d.e.a. Museum, Mesa, Arizona
    2019 Inspired by History, Chandler Museum, Chandler, Arizona
    2019 Water: Life, Art, Science, Tempe Center for the Arts Gallery, Tempe, Arizona
    2019 Artlink 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, Park Central, Phoenix, Arizona
    2018 Tiny Works Tiny Dances IV, 9 Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2018 Control, Alt, Create, NSAA, Tempe, Arizona
    2018 Arizona Biennial, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
    2018 Object Inspiration, Vision Gallery, Chandler, Arizona
    2018 Contemporary Forum Grant Winners Exhibition, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona

    Public Art
    2021 Public Mural, Canal Waters II, Walter Art Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
    2021 Public Art Installation, Past Present Future, Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
    2021 Public Art Installation, Sky Boats, Alamar Parks, Avondale, Arizona
    2021 Public Art Installation, Rise, Danelle Plaza, Tempe, Arizona
    2021 Public Mural, Focus, Phoenix Mural Festival, Grand Canal, Phoenix, Arizona
    2020 Public Mural, Arizona I & II, OneAZ Credit Union, Phoenix, Arizona
    2019-2021 Public Art Installation, Field Mural, Rise, Tempe Public Art, Tempe, Arizona
    2018 Public Mural, Canal Waters, Willo Historic District, Phoenix, Arizona
    2017 Public Mural, Convergence, MariSol Credit Union, Phoenix, Arizona
    2015 Public Mural, Power Structures, Halt Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2014 Public Mural, Mirage, Hot Box Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
    2012 Public Mural, Centennial, Roosevelt Row, APS Power Substation, Phoenix, Arizona

    Awards and Committees
    2020-present Artlink Artist Council member
    2022 Best of Phoenix Best Airport Art for Vanished Tempest installation, Phoenix Airport Museum
    2020 Best of Phoenix & Best of the Valley awards for Best Temporary Public Art & Best Field Mural for Rise commissioned by Tempe Public Art
    2019 Artist in Residence, Tempe Center for the Arts Gallery, Tempe, Arizona
    2017 Contemporary Forum Artist Grant recipient, Phoenix Art Museum Contemporary Forum
    2012-2013 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant recipient

    Education & Career

    Summa Cum Laude, Barrett Honors College, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting
    Arizona State University 1999-2003

    Senior Director of Exhibits July 2022 - present
    Desert Botanical Garden

    Exhibitions Manager September 2006 – June 2022
    Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)