Amy LaBossiere

This work won First Prize at the 2024 Common Threads exhibit at the Drezner Gallery, Farmington Valley Arts Center. Malcolm Gladwell contemplates the illusion of asymmetrical insight—the idea that we often think we understand others better than they understand us. This represents the complex nature of human perception, highlighting our biases and assumptions. The work is a nod to Rembrandt’s "Aristotle Contemplating a Bust of Homer,” which explores knowledge and perception and was first created to be exhibited at TheaterWorks Hartford during the play, Rembrandt. 

This work challenges viewers to reflect on their assumptions and biases in approaching human relationships with empathy and openness. It invites the viewer to consider the many factors that shape our understanding of the world around us and how we can create a more compassionate world by recognizing our limitations in perceiving others.

This piece was created to express pure joy in hopes that it would transmit it to the viewer. It is a playful nod to those splash-filled moments of togetherness and worry-free serenity. Through the whimsical use of fiber art, I've shaped a scene about self-love and the cheer of being with others. It's a casual yet heartfelt reminder of the fun of embracing ourselves and diving into life's shared pleasures.

Fiber and Acrylic on Canvas

I'm thrilled to announce that I won the Juror’s Award at the Connecticut Women Artists 2023 Annual Members’ Juried Exhibit! My pen and ink collage artwork, "Sober Friends," has been recognized by the esteemed Dr. Anna M. Swinbourne, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO of Hill-Stead Museum.

.I'm truly humbled by this honor, as Dr. Swinbourne's remarkable background in art history, curation, and advising makes her recognition even more meaningful. I'm grateful for the opportunity to showcase my art among such talented women artists in the CWA community.

Sober Friends is a collection of pen and ink sketches I created during the pandemic while attending daily Zoom meetings with my sober friends. Each sketch captures a unique individual's essence and journey toward recovery. As an artist, I hope that Sober Friends can serve as a tribute to the resilience and strength of those who have chosen to fight addiction and that it can inspire others to join the fight toward a world where sobriety is not just a possibility but a reality for everyone who wants it.

Adventurine is a needle-felted character holding an aventurine gemstone against a needle-felted water-look background encased in a gilded gold antique frame. Her eyes gaze dreamily into the distance as she contemplates the spiritual significance of water, its power, and its essence, evoking a sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world. Her longing for a spiritual existence beyond human form invites the viewer to reflect on their connection to the elements and the divine

Mixed media on canvas. This was the first iteration of Pool Party that evolved into several other works of the same composition. Th initial inspiration was: Culture told us we weren’t enough and our bodies were objects to be judged. Perhaps we can accept reality over prepackaged faux beauty and how the world says we need to be. Can we live without objectification?

COVID-19, vaccines, politics, fake news, division and separation. Where do we go from here?

My painting on a t-shirt, all proceeds benefit Ukrainian refugees via World Central Kitchen. Sold at Stackpole Moore Tryon in Downtown Hartford. Read the story about how this painting evolved to a t-shirt on their website.