Artist Statement

    I am an oil painter who creates realistic portraits and then intentionally disrupts them. I smear, break down, and rebuild each image by hand, using the process as a way to face fear and let go of control.

    My work centers on spirituality, mental health, and femininity within an ethereal setting. I start with realism, then drag my hands across the surface, allowing the painting to fall apart before forming something new. That shift from control to surrender is the heart of the piece.

    This practice began as exposure therapy for my OCD. I struggled with perfectionism, rumination, and the fear of making mistakes. Smearing a finished portrait forced me to sit with that discomfort.. Over time, the act became healing. Now it’s both personal and shared, I often film the process so others can experience that moment of release with me.

    I work in oil in short time periods to create thick layers and build depth. I use saturated color, light, and organic forms to create dreamlike spaces that feel grounded and hopeful. My work is about trusting that something beautiful can grow out of uncertainty, and that breaking something doesn’t mean it’s ruined. Sometimes it’s just becoming something new.

Artist Biography

    Lauren Cutts is an oil painter working in Fort Worth, Texas, known for her ethereal realist portraits that are intentionally smeared and rebuilt by hand. Her work explores mental health and spirituality through a physical process of disruption and repair.

     After earning her BFA at University of North Texas, Cutts’ process grew through exposure therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. What started as a personal healing practice evolved into a core part of her artistic language. By sharing the act of making her paintings, she invites viewers through video to witness vulnerability, transformation, and resilience. Through sharing her work online, she has reached a hundred million views.

    She begins with detailed figurative paintings, then breaks the surface apart, allowing organic forms and color to reshape the image. The tension between control and surrender defines her style, creating dreamlike compositions with rich texture and saturated light. Her work offers a quiet sense of hope.