The Gathering, and my ongoing Humanity Series, explores the complexities of human connection, shared experience, and the ways we find belonging within one another. In this painting, abstracted figures converge in a moment of quiet unity. Their layered forms and fragmented gestures hold both individuality and connection, suggesting that who we are is shaped not only by our personal stories, but by the people and communities around us. Color is central to the work. Warm ochres, luminous magentas, earthy neutrals and subtle shifts in hue, create an atmosphere where past and present, memory and presence, begin to overlap. Faces are intentionally obscured, allowing the figures to become less about individual identity and more about the universal experience of gathering, belonging, and being seen.Through color, texture, and suggestion, The Gathering reflects the emotional depth and resilience of human connection. It invites viewers to recognize something familiar within the figures—and to consider their own place within the larger human story. This painting was awarded first place in mixed media category in a recent Carlsbad Oceanside Art Gallery open exhibit.

Name Of Artist (So You Are Searchable!)

Laurie Batter

Exact Dimensions (H x W x D)

36x36x1.75

Year Created

2025

Provide details about the signature

Signed in acrylic paint

Materials

Abstracted figures, layered textures, vibrant magenta and ochre tones, earthy neutrals, expressive mixed-media painting. Using collage materials, acrylic paint, charcoal, woodie crayons.