Artist Bio

New York born painter, Laura BenAmots, spent her formative years in the Middle East and has lived in Colorado since 1998. She is dedicated to Art as a vehicle for social change and is the recipient of numerous awards recognizing her work with emerging artists and serving the underprivileged. A single mother of two grown sons, BenAmots has built her life and career around creating a gentler world full of art.  

She served as Gallery Director at Pikes Peak Community College for eight years where she continues to teach holding the title of Full Professor of ART. Her career has included a range of national and international solo, juried and invitational exhibits and honors.

Two books have been published about her work: BATTLE PORTRAITS Wounded Lions Wounded Lambs (published and distributed by the BAC Art Book Project www.battleportraits.com) and Eros On Canvas: the erotic paintings of Laura BenAmots (co-published by Last Gasp Press in San Francisco, California, and the Smokemuse Press in Colorado).

About her work

Of her artist journey Laura BenAmots says, “The disparate experiences of my life shape my art as I search for belonging and solitude. Time passes and I have found great freedom in the eclectic visual voices discovered in the search." 

She is impacted by events. Struggle of the immigrants in detention on the border has impacted her work (Exo-Sanctuaries & Freedom Skies) and life. The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars inspired her Battle Portraits project. Much of her recent work was deeply impacted by her 2016 pilgrimage to Standing Rock. Starting with Whispering Bones, Dancing Waters, Talking Skies, Sacred Grounds, Stream of Consciousness and most recently Prayer Pieces & Toaster Ovens.

She is a member of the Rough Ruby Arts Collective international activist women artist group. In 2022 her work was featured in the Rough Ruby  Exo-Sanctuaries at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center museum White Gallery. She was featured artist in the national online journal, Collateral, because of her extensive works honoring the struggles of veterans with PTSD, and was selected for inclusion in the 2014 International Contemporary Artists Exhibit in Assisi, Italy.

Education includes: Philadelphia University of the Arts MFA. Studies at U Penn. Tyler College of Art & Design BFA. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art - Studio Art & Painting Studies.

Recent Career Highlights

2024 Seeking Shelter (Studio West Gallery, Pikes Peak State College, COS CO)

2022 With-In (Kreuser Gallery -  Auric Gallery, COS CO)

2022 EXO-Sanctuaries (Sangre de Cristo Art Center, Pueblo CO)

2019 Abstraction: Women in Art (Invitational. Orly's Gallery, CO)

2018 Artists in Action Juried exhibit of Activist Art (Jurors: Joy Armstrong - Contemporary Curator Colorado College CSFine Arts Center - and Margaret Kasahara - represented by the Sandra Phillips Galley in Denver CO)

2018  "Prayer Pieces & Toaster Ovens" (The Machine Shop - Juried solo show)

2017 The Machine Shop (Awarded 3-month Artist Studio Residency CO)

2017 Stream of Consciousness (Invitational Solo Exhibit Kreuser Gallery, CO)


2016  PPAC ABE Award (honoring exemplary advocacy for emerging artists in the Pikes Peak Region CO)

2015 Kingman Art Hub Ariist Resident (Awarded 3-month International Artist Residency at the Kingman AZ Art Hub)

2015  "Icons of the Anonymous Madonna" (Invitational Solo Exhibit Kreuser Gallery CO)

2014 2014 International Contemporary Artist Exhibit  (Le Logge Gallery and International Artists Guide Assisi  IT)

2014 Artist in Residence (Awarded 1-month International Artist Residency at the Ginestrelle Arte Studio  Assisi, Italy IT)

2013 "WAR BRIDES & BATTLE PORTRAITS" (Solo Exhibit at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center - WHITE GALLERY Pueblo CO)

2012  Visual Artist of the Year (Pikes Peak Arts Council CO)

2012  "BATTLE PORTRAITS Wounded Lions Wounded Lambs" Exhibits  including: The Colorado Springs Fine Art Center,Colorado College's Cornerstone IDEA Space, CSU Pueblo Fine Art Gallery