Who is Louise Despont?

Louise Despont is a relatively new artist, who began exhibiting her work in 2008.  At Brown University, Louise began exploring other mediums such as stop action film and drawing. She graduated in 2006, having received two Creative Arts Council Grants, from Brown, as well as two film awards, one from Brown and one from the Princess Grace Foundation in New York. Her change in medium and further exploration is what developed her individual style. Her introduction to drawing caused her to break away, completely, from painting and begin to develop her collage work. The technique she uses now was developed over time and experiment with stencils. Her pieces range in size, and can be as small as a book or fill a wall floor to ceiling. Her pieces have a light quality to them; they are done in pencil with stencils and therefore are have a sketch feel. Her work in collage came to a head when she began working on ledger pages, which is now, all she uses. These old pages influence Louise and they help to add depth in her work through their texture. The history within the old pages drives the final product. Another force driving her work is her interest in Buddhism and Hinduism. Aspects of these two religions coming through Louise’s work in the form of shapes and designs. In order to keep this spiritual element present Louise often travels to India. In a mindset of peace and spirituality she invokes Buddhism and Hinduism, both in the final outcome and the process of drawing.

Below is an example of the spiritual element in her work. This piece is called Bodhi Tree, which, is thought to be the tree the Buddha was enlightened under. Without the knowledge of this name the viewer may miss the spiritual significance of the work. The shapes of leaves are repeated throughout the work and there is a tree like form on the right edge. There is also the repetition of circles, which could signify reincarnation. Repetition can be found in all of Despont's works and is another way Buddhism and Hinduism works there way into her pieces. Repetition is very important in both religions and echoes mediation, which Louise sees her work as. 

Miller, Wesley, and Nick Ravich. “Louise Despont Draws Deep.” ART21 New York Close Up. ART21 Procution, 13 July 2014. Web. 03 May 2015.

Vepa, Shweta. “Sacred Spaces: An Interview With Louise Despont.” Luxpresso.com. Times and Style, 8 Feb. 2013. Web. 03 May 2015.