noahtlaurent@gmail.com
about.
My background in philosophy began with an introduction to Aristotle and his Poetics. Initially intending to pursue a degree in interior design, I found myself captivated by an ancient philosophy class and changed my course of study to focus on theories of art and literature instead. After completing my degree in philosophy with a specialization in ancient Greek thought, I transitioned to working in the field of photography, a medium through which I explored the theory of mimesis—how art imitates life directly and intimately.
While working as a photographer, I felt compelled to deepen my practical skills and spent a year studying fashion design at Parsons School of Design. This tactile education in sewing, draping, illustration, and patternmaking broadened my understanding of art’s forms and textures. I brought this knowledge into my work as a photographer, delving into fashion and product photography and embracing a more commercial approach to artistic expression.
After several years in the industry, I felt drawn back to a more introspective form of creation. At this time, I began to pursue fine art photography and poetry as healing modalities, helping me process personal trauma and loss. Here, I found my proper place as an artist and researcher. Exploring my inner world against a backdrop of art and literature resonated with Aristotle’s theory of catharsis, which I had studied as an undergraduate. This process was not only creatively fulfilling but also deeply therapeutic, reconnecting me to my inner child and bringing me closer to the sacred in my life.
In 2022, I chose to deepen my academic engagement with art and literature by pursuing a master’s in Humanities. During those two years, I studied various theorists and perspectives that enriched my understanding of aesthetics. This experience allowed me to express my ideas with greater clarity, informed by the insights of thinkers who came before me. These explorations guided me inward, revealing new facets of myself I hadn’t anticipated.
For my final thesis, I investigated the impact of generative AI on the art world, inspired by Walter Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. I drew upon concepts from cultural geographers such as Carl Sauer and Doreen Massey and expanded on theories from Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities and Sara Ahmed’s Queer Phenomenology. This research led me to consider reality as an abstract, shared identity shaped within specific spatial and temporal contexts.
My work and research are deeply immersed in the human condition. I am endlessly captivated by the resilience and complexity of the human spirit and am continually uncovering new stories within myself that I hope to share with the world.