About Laurie


Laurie Danial (b. Syracuse, NY) is a painter with a background in printmaking based in Portland, Oregon. She is known for her exuberant color sense and loosely gestural paintings that move between abstraction and figuration. While not unified in any one style, the resultant mix often features multiple layers of paint and image, reflecting a time-consuming process that contributes to the depth and complexity of her work. Each painting becomes a record of this restless interaction between intention and material, subject and object, locked in perpetual conversation—between knowing and unknowing. Through improvisation and process, she works toward the moment when what she sees could have only been made by her.

Danial’s work has been featured in numerous solo and group shows nationally, including, Blue Mountain Gallery, (New York, NY), Oregon Contemporary Art Center, (Portland, OR), G. Gibson Gallery, (Seattle WA. Her work is held in permanent and corporate collections of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University, (Salem, OR), Portland Art Museum, (Portland, OR), PacificSource, (Springfield, OR), Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, OR), and the Regional Arts and Culture Council/City of Portland. 

She received a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council and an Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship. Her work has appeared in publications such as Art Papers, Two Coats of Paint, Oregon Visual Arts Ecology Program. Her most recent review was “Laurie Danial at Froelick Gallery,” written by Shannon M. Lieberman for Oregon Arts Watch, 2024. She lives and works in Portland and is represented there by Froelick Gallery. Danial studied painting and printmaking at Pacific Northwest College of Art and Portland State University, (1987-1991).

BORN

1956       Syracuse, NY

1989-91       Portland State University, Portland, OR
1987-90       Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR

EDUCATION

2024       Before my Very Eyes, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR (Nov)
2022       I’m this, I’m that, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR (Nov)
2020       Navigating in Place, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR (June)
2018       The Back of Beyond, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2018       Internal Dialogue: Abstract Art, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR
2017       A Good Distance, Umpqua Valley Arts Association, Roseburg, OR
2016       Making Home, Froelick Gallery, Portland OR
2014       Dead Reckoning, Froelick Gallery, Portland OR
2011       Control Release Control, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR 
2010       Pictures Of The Day, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2008       Beautiful Losers, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2005       Mark Woolley, Portland, OR
2004       Ogle Gallery, Portland, OR
2000       Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
1999       Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
1998       Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
1995       Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
1994       Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024 Summer Juried Exhibition at Blue Mountain Gallery, New York, NY
Not a Figure, Portland Arts Collective, Portland,OR
Winter Group Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2023  28th Anniversary Group Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Winter Group Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2020 2020 Winter Group Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2019  2019 Summer Group Exhibit, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2018 2018 Internal Dialogue: Abstract Art, Columbia Art Gallery, Hood River, OR
2017 2017 About Beauty, George Fox University, Minthorne Gallery, Newberg, OR
2016 Salon: Portland2016, The Studio Visits, curated by Michelle Grabner, Disjecta, Portland, OR
Art in the Governor’s Office, Salem, OR
2015 Pacific Northwest Art Annual, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Street of Dreams, Shaw House, Lake Oswego, OR
Water, Froelick Gallery, Portland
2014 Fire Department, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2013 Plus, An exhibition of large scale works, Froelick Gallery, Portland 2012 
Homage To Elles, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle WA OR
Pull, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA 
2010  SQFT, curated by TJ Norris, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
2009  Winter Group Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
2008 Dualities: A Collaboration with Cornish College of the Arts, Northwest Galleries at SAM Gallery, Seattle Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery, Seattle, WA
2007 In Focus: Northwest Galleries at SAM Gallery, Seattle Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery, Seattle, WA
Winter Group Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Portland Modern, Portland Arts Center, Curator: Victor Maldonado, Portland, OR
2006 Fall Back: Five Gallery Painters, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Bestiary, Froelick Gallery, Portland OR
2005     Small Wonders, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
Lucia Douglas Gallery, Bellingham, WA
Altered States, Print Arts Northwest, Portland, OR
Simply Red, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
2004     Paper Works, Savage Gallery, Portland, OR
Shakespeare as Muse, Schneider Museum of Art, Ashland, OR, Juror, Josine Starrels
The Clown Show, Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
10 Years: One Foot After Another, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
2003     Common Code, exhibitor & curator, Littman Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Salon de Refuses, Groundswell Gallery, OR
2000     North West Print International: Artists from OR, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA
1999     Art Slate, Condon, OR
Fin de Siecle, Luscia Douglas Gallery, WA
1998     2nd National Print Biennial, Silvermine Guild Art Center, New Canaan, CT
Inkling Studio Printmaker, Multnomah Arts Center, Portland, OR
The Cooperators, Hoffman Gallery, Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, OR
Pacific Prints 1998, Ninth Biennial Print Competition, Pacific Arts League of Palo Alto, CA
1996 Let Them Eat Cake, Mark Woolley Gallery, Portland, OR
Inkling 15th Year Anniversary, Quartersaw Gallery, OR
1995     Janet Turner National Print Competition, Janet Turner Print Gallery, CSU, Chico, CA
1994 Biannual Print Invitational, Quartersaw Gallery, Portland, OR
1992 Pacific Prints 1992, Pacific Art League of Palo Alto, CA
1991 Oregon Biennial, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
1990 Gallery 299, Group Print Show, Portland State University, OR
1989 Juried Competition: Self- Portraits, Wentz Gallery, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

AWARDS & HONORS

2016       Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship
2010       Professional Development Grant, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland, OR
1999       Jurors Prize, Art Slate ‘99, Condon, Oregon, Juror: Paul Arensmeyer
1995       Janet Tuner National Print Competition, Honorable Mention, California State University, Chico, CA
1990       Mary Peterson Memorial Merit Scholarship, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
1988       Wentz Gallery, Portland, OR, PNCA Student Award Show

REVIEWS & CATALOGUES

2024 “Laurie Danial at Froelick Gallery” Oregon Arts Watch, Shannon M. Lieberman, November 20, 2024 (blog post)
2021 “The Semi-Finalist Is: Laurie Danial” The Semi-Finalist, David Schell, January 24, 2021 (blog post)
2019 “Laurie Danial’s Dynamic and Enigmatic Abstraction” Oregon Visual Arts Ecology Project, Patrick Collier, May
2016 Portland 2016: A biennial of Contemporary Art, Art Papers, William J. Simmons
2014 “Dead Reckoning” Willamette Week, Richard Speer, April 24, 2014
“Stroke of Genius, Scene, State of the Art,” Luxe, Spring, p. 102
2012 Artist Profile, art ltd., Lisa Radon, January 2012
2011 “Control Release Control,” Neighborhood Notes, Robert Ham, November 2, 2011
“November’s First Thursday Reveals a Month to be Thankful For,” Bob Hicks, The Oregonian, November 23, 2011
Visual Arts Review, TJ Norris, Willamette Week, November 5, 2011
“Three Artists Have A Great Autumn,” Visual Arts Review, TJ Norris,Willamette Week, November 9, 2011
Oregon Public Broadcasting review: Laurie Danial, Miles Goodwin and Barry Johnson, November 15, 2011
Oregon Public Broadcasting review: Raindrops and Art Hops, Barry Johnson, Oregon Arts Watch, November 18, 2011
“A Quick Study,” Sharon Butler, Two Coats of Paint, Posted on November 18, 2011
2008 “On view: Laurie Danial at Froelick Gallery,” The Oregonian, D.K. Row, May 08, 2008
2007 “Portland Modern as Talent Scout,” Brian Libby, The Oregonian, A&E, July 15, 2007
“Portland Modern,” Environmentalist, Issue #5, 2007
2003 “Stretch of Ambition,” The Oregonian, D.K. Row, February, 24, 2003
1998 “Conflict in Collaboration,” Willamette Week, Kate Bonansinga, July, 28, 1998
Portland at Large, Summer 1998, #4
“Pacific Prints,” 1998, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA

RELATED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

2024-2018   Artist Talks at Froelick Gallery, Portland, OR
Before my Very Eyes
I’m this, I’m that
Navigating in Place
The Back of Beyond
2023           Panelist, Tom Prochaska: Music for Ghosts presents a retrospective, Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University, Salem Oregon
2018 Artist talk, Internal Dialogue: Abstract Art, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR
2008 Guest speaker/studio visits, Lewis and Clark College, Portland OR
2005-2007    Etching Class, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland OR

PRIVATE & PUBLIC CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University, Salem, OR
Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
PacificSource, Springfield, OR
Regional Arts and Culture Council, City of Portland, OR
Genoa Restaurant, Portland, OR
McKinley Irvin, PLLC, Seattle, WA
Prometheus Real Estate Group, Portland, OR