Cramped features three large-scale oil paintings exploring the limitations and expectations society places on larger women. Rubenesque figures are portrayed from the upper torso, with the heads intentionally omitted, underscoring the anonymity and universality of the constraints being addressed. The figures’ hands act as shields, visually echoing the boundaries set by societal ideals and the feeling of being figuratively “cramped” into a narrow mold.

Rendered in a bold, representational style, these paintings invite viewers into a confined space of introspection, shaped by a rich palette and tightly framed compositions. By omitting faces, the artist draws attention to the tension within each gesture, symbolizing the push and pull between selfhood and conformity. Cramped challenges viewers to consider the complex, unspoken strain of fitting into imposed ideals, highlighting both the resilience and vulnerability inherent in this experience.

MEDIUMS

oil on canvas

ARTIST BIO

Laurie M. Landry is a Deaf Canadian contemporary artist. Her work focuses on contemporary portraiture of marginalized subjects such as those who are Deaf or living with a disability.  In her figurative art, she is currently exploring the corporeality of heterogeneous bodies.  She is particularly intrigued by the ways in which the hands and bodies can communicate an idea without speaking.

Landry has participated in guided artist residencies across Canada and her work has been shown in art galleries across Canada, and in international magazines. She has also curated a group show featuring figurative works by contemporary female artists exploring themes of youth and aging bodies. She holds a Certificate in Fine Arts Techniques from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, and has been awarded Canada Council for the Arts and British Columbia Arts Council grants to support her art practice.