Surrender: Lauren Bolshakov & Morgan Walker

Art & Light Gallery is pleased to present “Surrender”, a two-person exhibition of work by Lauren Bolshakov (Charlotte, N.C.) and Morgan Walker (Florence, S.C.) launching on the Art & Light website and in the gallery at 10am on Tuesday, March 4th with an opening reception on Friday, March 7th from 6-8pm. 

“Surrender” explores the cycles of life, using flowers as a shared metaphor for the impermanence of all things and the unique significance of each stage in the journey. Bolshakov and Walker are drawn to florals not merely for their aesthetic appeal but for their embodiment of the dualities of life and constant change that we all experience and often try to control. The artists intentionally take on the flower for its ability to embody the duality of growth and decay, resilience and fragility. This delicate balance between holding on and surrendering reveals the profound strength in embracing both effort and ease. 

Lauren Bolshakov is best known for her abstract mixed media paintings, defined by soft colors, balance, and elegant linework. Bolshakov works in mixed media, incorporating charcoal, pastels and most recently oils on a variety of surfaces. Her latest work draws inspiration from collected nature, focusing on the layering of paint and linework, to create expressive, movement driven paintings. 

Morgan Walker received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Clemson University with a focus in painting, then worked in interior design before ending up in the fashion world. After observing the stark contrast between her father’s declining penmanship due to Parkinson’s disease and her young daughter’s lack of control when drawing, Walker wanted to create work that emulates the intentionality of her father’s tiny marks with the freeness of her daughter’s large chaotic scribbles. In her work, Walker finds balance by combining order with chaos, forming a loosely painted paper background which she then cuts to form into controlled collages.