Lara Shecter

Beneath the layers of life's complexities, there exists a shared human experience that transcends time, and finds its expression through art.

Who Am I?

A straightforward question, but like for most people, it has many answers. I am an artist, a photographer, a designer. I am a mother, a wife, a good friend. I am a homebody, an optimist, a lover of life. And sometimes, I am just a total mess. 

For more than 25 years, I have been learning, experimenting, and evolving in my creative field. I have worked in design, marketing, and photography—all while continuously pushing myself to refine my craft and define my artistic voice. From my earliest childhood memories, I was always making something: LEGO towers, sewing Barbie outfits, sculpting with FIMO clay, glueing googly-eyes onto anything and everything, always doodling, and endlessly experimenting in the kitchen (often with disastrous results!).

At 17, a backpacking trip across Europe became my gateway to the world’s art masters. The trip was a whirlwind of museums, historic buildings, and monumental sculptures. The sheer volume of visual stimuli was overwhelming, but certain moments remain vivid—like the first time I stood before a Salvador Dalí painting. The way he distorted reality, blending the conscious and subconscious, made my own sense of time feel as warped as one of his melting clock faces. I was instantly captivated by how art transforms the familiar into the surreal and communicates complex ideas in unexpected ways. This sensibility would go on to shape my own work.

The Journey

Years spentas a graphic designer obsessing over the perfect font, refining line weights, and perfecting colour harmony has deeply influenced my artistic approach. One of my design heroes, Tom Eckersley, is a master of visual economy. His minimalist compositions, often created through collage, distill intricate concepts into strikingly simple forms. His ability to strip an image down to its essence is something I continually strive for. 

Closer to home, the great Canadian landscape painter E.J. Hughes lead me in a slightly different direction. While designing a series of books about his work, I came to understand how even the most realistic art tells an abstract story—one shaped as much by the artist’s vision as by the viewer’s interpretation.

Now & Then

My images blend realism, graphic precision, and storytelling with a sense of déjà vu. Living in Vancouver, surrounded by the striking contrasts of British Columbia’s natural beauty and urban landscapes, continually fuels my imagination and shapes the way I see and interpret the world. I am drawn to the tension and harmony between people and the environments we create, often returning to the theme of 'alone together.'

Building Blocks

Overlapping lives and stories, like echoes in time

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to explore my work

I hope your visit sparks a sense of connection, or even a new way of seeing what is already around you. If you are curious to know more, explore my processes and mediums.