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"We are all buried treasure."

Art statement

About A. Laura Brody
We are all buried treasure.
I re-imagine mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers as works of art. These pieces begin with discarded medical devices and are given new personalities. Their goal is to spark new conversations and help change our approach to disability and aging. My textile pieces stem from traditional women’s crafts that tell personal stories and build community.
I am a professional costume maker and designer who came to disability art after a former partner had a stroke. I was fascinated by adaptive technology, but repulsed by its cold and clinical design. My curiosity with how we view disability led me to develop Opulent Mobility, a series of group exhibits that re-imagine disability as opulent and powerful.
I approach my artworks as a costume designer, starting with themes from history and mythology and researching their backgrounds and multifaceted stories. I then develop and test techniques, sketch out my ideas, find base items to build on, and then begin the construction process. This is long, therapeutic, and alternately frustrating and exhilarating. Each piece can take up to two years to complete. These artworks touch on visible and invisible disability, feminism, emotional labor, mental health, and sustainability. They are primarily made from reclaimed materials.
Laura Brody sculpts for the human body and its vehicles. She developed and curates Opulent Mobility, a series of exhibits that re-imagine disability as opulent and powerful. Her art has been shown at ACE/121 Gallery, Art Share LA,   Brea Gallery, California State University Northridge, the Charles River Museum of Industry, the Dora Stern Gallery at Arts Unbound, Gallery Expo, Ikouii Creative, Westbeth Center For the Arts, and The World of Wearable Art.
Ms. Brody works as a professional costume maker and designer, an artist, and as an educator. She is passionate about reuse, sustainability, and re-imagining disability.

Podcast on "World Gone Good" with Ms. Brody about Opulent Mobility
Ikouii spotlight on A. Laura Brody and Opulent Mobility
ShoutOut LA article on A. Laura Brody, artist, teacher, and founder/curator of Opulent Mobility

Press

A woman with a needle in her mouth bends over the back of a wheelchair. She is reupholstering the chair's back with tapestry fabric.
Interview with A. Laura Brody in CREATE! Magazine, 2018. Photo by David Robkin.
A boy with blonde hair drives an electric wheelchair. The seat of the chair is covered in red, orange, gold, and peach tendrils with beaded tips.
Interview of A. Laura Brody on the podcast "Who Lives Like This", 2019. Photo by Stephanie Shanks.
A woman with light brown hair holds the arms of a brightly colored representation of the goddess Kali.
Interview with A. Laura Brody in Voyage LA, 2018. Photo by Heidi Marie Photography.

exhibitions

SOLO EXHIBITS:
2023
The Makery, Los Angeles, CA
2021
Ikouii Creative, online
2018
Highways Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2017          
917 Garage, Silverlake, CA
2012          
Monte Cristo Club, Los Angeles, CA

CURATION:
2022
OM 2022 at Antelope Valley Arts Gallery, CA
2021
OM 2021 at Wingwalker Brewery, CA
2020
Opulent Mobility 2020 online
2019       
OM 2019 at  Dora Stern Gallery, NJ
2018          
OM 2018 at Thymele Arts, Hollywood, CA
2017           
www.opulentmobility.com
2015       
OM 2015 at California State Northridge’s West Gallery, Northridge, CA
2013        
OM 2013 at Bell Arts Factory, Ventura, CA

GROUP EXHIBITS:
2023
The Makery, CA
Art Share LA, CA
Destroy the Gap, OH
2022
The Makery, CA
Ikouii Creative
Santa Clarita Arts, CA
Create Magazine
2021
O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, CA
Pomona Valley Arts Association, CA
Ikouii Creative
Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
2020
Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
Las Lagunas Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Washington Reid Gallery, CA
2019 
ACE/121 Gallery, Glendale, CA
No Future Cafe, CA
2018
Arroyo Arts Collective at ACE/121 Gallery
Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
2015
Westbeth Center for the Arts, NY
Schkapf Theater and Incubation Center, Hollywood, CA
2014
11:11- A Creative Collective, West Hills, CA
2013 
Green Public Art, San Diego, CA.
2011 & 2013
Summerset Festival of the Arts, Baraboo, WI.
2012
Encore Arts 4 at Sauk County Arts, Baraboo, WI.
Gallery Expo, Long Beach, CA.         
World of Wearable Art, Wellington, NZ
2011
EcoLogicalART Gallery, LA, CA.
Rico Adair Gallery, North Hollywood, CA.
2010-2011  
Charles River Museum of Industry, Waltham, MA.

Teaching and Talks

INSTRUCTOR:
2018-20
Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA
2019
ACE/121, Glendale, CA
2013
City of Pasadena Recreation Department, Pasadena, CA
2012 
Machine Project, Los Angeles, CA
Majestical Roof, Pasadena, CA
2008
UL Lafayette, Lafayette, LA
2007
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles, CA

GUEST SPEAKER/ARTIST:
2017          
Disability as Spectacle conference
UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
DisArt Symposium, Grand Rapids, MI
2015            
Perspectives on Disability Studies at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
2011-2014  
Summerset Festival of the Arts, Baraboo, WI.
2012          
The Event Formerly Known as Nerd Nite, LA, CA.
Toi Whaakari Drama School, Wellington, NZ.
2010          
Los Angeles Visionaries, Clifton’s Cafeteria, LA, CA.
2006          
USITT, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL.

Costume Design

FILM DESIGN:
2010           
Purgatory, Inc.
2008           
House of Bones             
2006
Marry Me                                              
2005           
The Call of Cthulhu

SELECTED COSTUME DESIGN:
THEATER & DANCE
2011           
The Crucible
2010           
Fearful Symmetries 
2010           
11, September
2009           
Tent Meeting        
The Hostage 
2008           
State of LA Danse
Masters on the Movies
2007           
Loyal Women     
B4 I Wake         
Twelfth Night 
Power 
Henry IV, Part I

Full technical costume resume available upon request
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