Laura Foster Nicholson ('76 Fiber)
Laura Foster Nicholson is a distinguished textile artist known for her narrative tapestries. She earned her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1976 and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1982.
"I'm giving because KCAI totally changed my life in an astonishing way. I was quite comfortable with my drawing skills before I arrived, but the growth I experienced in my 4 years there was exponential. I was urged to try things I never would have thought of before, learned important new skills, and achieved a level of critical ability about how my work was perceived. And I had a fantastic time just being there! Learning from teachers who were highly committed studio artists themselves was really valuable, and it reassured me that I could do the same. As a result, I have been a full time studio artist and made my living on sales of my artwork for many years."
Since then, she has worked full-time as a studio artist, creating works that are included in renowned collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum at the Smithsonian, the Denver Art Museum, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Nicholson's impressive list of awards includes the Stone Lion Award at the 1985 Venice Biennale of Architecture, an NEA Individual Artist grant, and the DeHaan Artist of Distinction award from the Indy Arts Council. She has also received multiple Illinois and Indiana Artist Grants, the James R. Thompson Award for Excellence in Craft, and support from the Graham Foundation for Research in Fine Arts. Her tapestries continue to captivate audiences worldwide.