Laura Kupac

Cave Junction, Oregon 

“As soon as I got home from the hospital, one of the first things I tried was painting. I knew my drawing ability had been affected but I could not imagine never painting again. So, my style changed considerably. I stopped focusing on drawing and started to work with colors and textures. I would love to make this my career.”

Laura Kupac can be described as a hard working and determined woman. After debilitating health issues in 2013 - two brain aneurysms and a stroke - she had to relearn basic life skills such as walking, talking, dressing, and feeding herself. Her drawing skills were seriously affected and she initially thought she would never be able to paint again. With a lot of discipline and effort, Laura is developing her current style. Her creations are  a reflection of her determination to overcome her new challenges. Art has helped Laura regain her confidence and self-esteem while adapting to the changes in her life.

Formerly a resident of Seattle, Laura has relocated to Cave Junction, Oregon, where she was finally able to secure low income housing. Since her stroke, Laura has experienced chronic homelessness as a result of her disability. She has used art as a form of rehabilitative therapy to help improve her coordination, mobility, and to relieve anxiety and stress. Laura now uses different art materials and techniques including painting in acrylics, which are easier to clean and manage, and mixing her paint straight on the canvas, since the entirety of her art must be done with one hand.

When she is not painting, Laura enjoys cooking and gardening. She is also part of a vocational rehabilitation program, which Laura hopes will help her become able to work again. Laura is thrilled to share her artwork on ArtLifting’s platform and hopes that her story and ability to create art despite the challenges she has faced will be an inspiration to others.

“Being part of ArtLifting is important to me because of the opportunity to share my work with a lot more people, and inspire others to keep trying even when it seems like they have lost everything. I hope my story serves that purpose.”