Laura Bernardeschi Nelson: Transformative Art Journey

Last updates June 2025

From Protest to Peace: How Laura Bernardeschi Nelson Found Healing in Soft Landscapes

When Expression Becomes Too Heavy

For years, artist Laura Bernardeschi Nelson was known for her powerful abstract paintings—bold, textured works in acrylic that spoke to social justice, displacement, and the emotional cost of conflict. Her canvases were alive with urgency and raw expression, often sparking dialogue about topics many preferred to avoid.

But a few months ago, something shifted.

Laura began experiencing intense anxiety and a persistent wave of depression that made it harder to face the kind of work she had built her reputation on. The large-scale canvases felt distant. The heavy themes became emotionally overwhelming.

“It felt like my paintings were shouting at me,” she says. “And I didn’t have the energy to shout back.”

Rediscovering the Ground

Rather than walking away from art entirely, Laura made a quiet pivot. She reached for oil pastels, something tactile and immediate. She left the upright canvas behind and returned to paper—kneeling, sitting, grounding herself as she worked close to the surface.

“There’s something elemental about it,” she explains. “With oil pastels, there’s no brush, no tool separating me from the colour. It’s just my hand, the pigment, and the paper. That physical connection is calming. It’s like I can feel the earth again.”

This shift led her away from abstraction and toward soft, peaceful landscapes—fields bursting with green, wildflowers under a gentle breeze, coastlines resting under quiet skies. Her recent works hum with stillness and healing.

“These aren’t just landscapes,” Laura says. “They’re places I want to go, places where my nervous system can breathe.”

Choosing Peace Over Performance

In this new phase, Laura has intentionally stepped back from the gallery circuit and the pressure of exhibitions.

“I’m not applying for shows right now,” she says. “Not because I don’t care about visibility, but because I need to protect my mental health. The deadlines, the judgment, the rush—it’s not what I need right now.”

Instead, she shares her work slowly, softly—mainly online, and only when it feels right. Her audience has followed her into this quieter chapter, drawn not just to the beauty of her new style but to the honesty behind it.

Art as Anchor

Laura’s story isn’t one of withdrawal, but of return. Return to her body, to her breath, to a slower rhythm of making. In turning away from themes of urgency, she has turned toward something deeper: self-compassion.

Through gentle strokes and quiet landscapes, she’s not escaping the world but learning how to stay in it differently.

“Art has always helped me make sense of things,” she reflects. “Now, more than ever, it’s helping me stay grounded, stay soft, stay alive.”

And once again—perhaps more clearly than ever before—art has become her therapy.
A space not to perform, but to heal. A way to hold pain without being consumed by it.

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Laura Journey 2017/2025

Laura Bernardeschi Nelson’s journey as an artist is both profound and transformative, reflecting a deep personal narrative intertwined with social consciousness and spiritual awakening. Through her evolving artistic practices, she has not only crafted a unique style but also used art as a form of therapy and activism. Below is a refined breakdown of her artistic trajectory, philosophy, and impact.

Artistic Journey and Evolution
Laura’s artistic career, which began in 2017, was born from a need to heal and express herself after enduring emotional abuse and mental health struggles. Before transitioning into painting, she had a rich career as a life model, actress, and photographer. These professions helped her develop an intuitive understanding of color, light, form, and human expression. Although Laura did not pursue formal art education, her time in London allowed her to access a diverse artistic community and refine her creative voice.
Initially drawn to watercolors, Laura’s passion shifted to the more intense and vibrant medium of acrylics. This move represented a turning point, as acrylics allowed her to explore bold color and dynamic composition in ways that connected her to both her inner world and the larger environment. Over time, she incorporated other mediums like markers, oil pastels, and soft pastels, each selected to evoke specific emotional and psychological responses.
Her Italian heritage and the influence of masters like Caravaggio shaped her appreciation for dramatic lighting and chiaroscuro, while London’s rich art scene inspired a more global approach, incorporating the works of artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Klimt. As Laura’s work evolved, it became more abstract, emotional, and deeply personal, delving into themes of memory, self-identity, and transformation.

Art as Therapy and Advocacy
For Laura, art is more than just a creative outlet; it is a therapeutic process that has helped her navigate trauma, anxiety, and emotional abuse. Her self-portraits, in particular, become powerful statements of survival, resilience, and self-empowerment. These portraits explore complex emotions such as sadness, confusion, strength, and eventual healing, offering a visual narrative of reclaiming one’s voice and identity.
In addition to personal healing, Laura’s art is driven by a strong sense of social responsibility. She uses her work to address pressing global issues, particularly environmental concerns like climate change and the degradation of natural ecosystems. Laura’s deep connection to nature is evident in her art, where themes of ecological preservation often intersect with her exploration of personal healing. Her work serves as a call to action, much like Picasso’s “Guernica” did in its time, urging the audience to reflect on and respond to the crisis facing the planet.

Personal and Spiritual Philosophy
Although Laura does not adhere to a specific religion, she describes herself as deeply spiritual, finding meaning and connection through nature and the arts. Elements like trees, flowers, and the sea feature prominently in her work as symbols of harmony, peace, and natural beauty. Her spiritual practices, often accompanied by New Age music, help her channel energy and focus while painting, deepening the connection between her personal experiences and the artwork she creates.
Her belief that art should challenge societal norms and provoke thought is evident in her pieces, which frequently incorporate social commentary. Laura is inspired by artists like Picasso, who used art as a tool for social change, and she carries this philosophy into her own practice, aiming to make art that not only resonates emotionally but also engages the viewer in larger dialogues about the world.

Medium and Techniques
One of the cornerstones of Laura’s work is her commitment to experimentation. She believes that an artist should not be confined to a single medium or style, but instead should explore different methods to understand their full creative potential. This flexibility has allowed Laura to seamlessly integrate acrylics, markers, oil pastels, and soft pastels into her pieces, using each medium to evoke specific moods and messages.
Her mastery of color mixing is another defining feature of her work. She is particularly drawn to bold, vibrant hues like red, orange, gold, blue, and yellow, which infuse her pieces with a sense of energy and urgency. The dynamic interplay of colors, shapes, and forms allows her to communicate complex emotional and social themes, whether depicting the turmoil of personal experiences or the calm of spiritual reflection.

Artistic Impact and Recognition
In just a few years, Laura has gained significant recognition in national and international art exhibitions, showcasing her work in galleries across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Her art resonates with viewers who appreciate pieces that speak to universal human experiences, from personal survival to global environmental issues.
Laura’s work has been featured in numerous high-profile exhibitions, including solo shows and group events, where her self-portraits and environmental advocacy have sparked important conversations. From her first open studios in London to being selected for major international art fairs, Laura has made an impact in the art world, with her pieces gaining attention for their emotional depth and social relevance.

www.saatchiart.com/lauraartist68

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/lauraartist68

https://fineartamerica.com/art/laura+bernardeschi+nelson

Laura’ s Art Exhibitions

2025

Published on Art Loving magazine

EXI , Call for art for an existential art exhibition in Central London, Crypt Gallery St Pancras in February 2025

ARTISTS’ PROTEST: in Words & Images! Dunoon MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), Scotland

Contrast Issue 3, Meta Space Gallery Uk January

• 24th Community Art Exhibition in Virtual Reality
  20 January 2025 – 10 February 2025 https://circularartspace.co.uk/metartspace

February 2025 published on https://www.artistcloseup.com/blog/interview-laura-bernardeschi-nelson

March 2025

Portraits and Figures – Open Galley – Halifax Uk

Self -portrait Cista Art and published on their catalogue March 2025 with Hungry Lady

April 2025

Surf & Turf exhibition organised by Badger in the Wall , Clapham , North Yorkshire March/April 2025 with the artwork The Tree

Chinwe Russell Contemporary Living Artists Auction
April 2025

Selected in the virtual reality exhibition titled Pets / Domestic Animals organised by The Animal Artspace

May 2025

Certificate of Partecipation 7a editione Dantebus , Roma Firenze. Italy

• In Light of All of This: Soft Power Strong Voice, Cista art , 1-19 August , online

• Land/Sea/Sky exhibition, 19th August/3rd September Fronteer Art Sheffield, Uk

• Author of Paper and Fire: An Artist’s Journey Through Change Amazon KDP
• Author of Mixed Media and Climate Awareness: Laura’s Impactful Art Amazon KDP
• Author of The Pose That Hurt: Becoming an Artist Through Life Modeling and Rebellion Amazon KDP
• Animal Painting by The Animal Art Space online/virtual exhibition
• Weather Forecast by Badger in the Wall North Yorkshire , Uk
• Sacred Light in Pastel Virtual Solo exhibition on http://www.artavita.com https://www.artavita.com/virtual_exhibitions/786cf66e-b7fc-4acb-b29a-7033e90a44c8
• Between Fragility and Fire , Solo art exhibition on Goddessarts magazine https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/14668366/laura-bernardeschi-nelson-between-fragility-and-fire
• From Chaos to Quiet interview on Goddessarts magazine https://www.goddessartsmag.com/post/from-chaos-to-quiet
• Published on I AM NOT A SIZE MAGAZINE! Second issue November 2025 as Laura Bernardeschi Nelson.
• On Live Actioner next 7th December 2025 with Hungry Lady Laura Bernardeschi Nelson through Chinwe Russell Auctions
• Featured in Insights of an Eco Artist in an article titled “Debris and Restoration: Laura Bernardeschi Nelson’s Material Ecology
• Debris and Restoration: Laura Bernardeschi Nelson’s Material Ecology 15/12/2025
• She Speaks art exhibition in Black Cultural Centre, Islington, London 12/2025
• Published new book Aging Earth, Aging Self: How Environment Shapes Emotion and Aging on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/awT9K3Q.

2024

January

Abstraction” Online exhibition in Dresda from 15th January to 15th February

February

Circular art Space , Bristol, group exhibition from 2nd to28th of February with the following artworks:

March 2024

The Virtual Exhibition of Abstract Art, in aid of the Alzeheimer Society, by the online Artgallery SW with the following paintings and drawings part of the series titled Aliens.

April 2024

Accepted by the jury for the Artbox project Venezia 2024 from 10th to 30th April with Sunset of Northumberland

Nature’s Canvas: Exploring the Diversity and Beauty of the Natural World | April 2024 | Cista Arts with the drawing Spring, in mixed media

Published on the blog of Artistcloseup magazine on 10th April 2024:

https://www.artistcloseup.com/blog/interview-laura-bernardeschi

Part Feline-Thropic’ at Redcar Palace from 11th May to 30th June

Art As A Response to Mental Health Annual Exhibition 2024, Chinwe Russell 5TH edition, June 2024 with the artwork titled Brainwashed

Silence… An Exhibition Open Call for Artists by Joshua Norwood May/June 2024, with the artwork We Belong to The Ocean

Arts to Heart Certificate of Participation 2024

Global Grassroots Arts Event, Blue Planet, with the artwork Maelstrom, Georgia , Tiblisi

Creatively improving mental health Fundraiser! Exhibition, Charity Gala & Art Auction, Chillistudios, Newcastle upon tyne ,Friday 11th October 5-8pm @ Newcastle Upon Tyne with the artwork titled Aliens

July 2024

Published by Odyssey Global Media Blue Planet July 2024

August 2024

Published by ITISLIQUID as featured artist August 2024

Published by Collect Art Seascapes

September 2024

Part of the art exhibition organised by Boomer Art Gallery , London , titled Vogue

September 2024 Published in the magazine Artistcloseup

October 2024
Part of the Art collective of Newbridge Project, Newcastle upon tyne , September and October 2024 with the artwork titled Rainbow

Certificate of Participation for the Global Blue Planet Art Digital Exhibition

Certificate of participation by Casa del Arte , Palma di Maiorca , October 2024

Accepted in the USA and Uk art auction organised by Chinwe Russell art gallery with the artwork Planet Earth on Fire, November 2024

Small works December 2024 , FoxYard Studio, Stowmarket, Norfolk, Uk with the artwork titled Shades

2023 ART EXHIBITIONS

Here is my artwork at The Holy Art Fair , London, with the artwork titled Sunset of Northumberland ( it is the orange one )

Magic + Miracles Exhibition Venue: Kreiva Gallery | City: Bridlington | Country: United Kingdom with the artwork titled Music of Universe November 2023

Selected for Missives- Open Call, Venue: Platforms Project 2023, Technopolis | City: Athens | Country: Greece from26th to 28th October

Selected for the open call 30days@30artists organised by Meta Space Art gallery , Merseyside , Uk from 1st to 30th September with the artwork titled Questions

Selected for the open call Abstract art organised by Fronteer art, Orchard Square , Sheffield from 19th September to 6th October with the artwork titled Spring Rebirth

Selected for the art exhibition titled Heat organised by RuptureXIBIT Studio , London from 22 to 26 August with the artwork Hot Derriere

Selected for the Art exhibition titled Flared in Virtual Reality organised by Circular Art Space in Bristol from 21/08 to 13/09 with the artworks titled 1)Season , 2)Hippie Urban Jungle Girl ,3)The Origins

Selected for the art exhibition titled Shades of Red organised by Fox Yard Studio – Art Gallery, Suffolk with the artwork Magma 11/31 st August

Received certificate of Artistic merit By the International Exhibition Nature hosted by Barbagelata Contemporary Art Foundation , Barcelona, Spain , July 30 – August 18th , 2023 with the artwork titled ” We belong to the ocean

Certificate of participation with the artwork : The Secret behind the tree , by ARTBOX .PROJECT ZURICH and shown at the SWISSARTEXPO 6TH-10TH September

Selected for Positive Vibes Only Meta Space Gallery, Liverpool, Uk with the artwork titled Treats from 1 to 31st July 2023

Selected for the art exhibition titled “The time of Her Life III ” by The House of Smalls Art Gallery, Chipping Camden, Uk with the artwork titled”Women Power “

Selected by Brouhahaart art gallery , Hong Kong , for the online art exhibition titled “Women , only ” May 2023 with the artworks Hippie urban Jungle girl and Women Power

Selected by Haus_a_rest for the online event titled Alter Ego , May 2023 with the painting titled Chaos

Selected by Chinwe Russell Art Gallery , London with the painting titled Secret Knowledge , Artists on the Rise April Auction and online exhibition , April 2023

Selected by Open Gallery , Halifax with the artwork titled The Eyes of Mother nature,May 2023

Selected for the art exhibition Self portrait makes me smile with the artwork titled Chaos ,Venue: The Gallery, Shipley, April 2023

Poetry and art : selected for the art exhibition Poetry makes me smile ,Venue: The Gallery, Shipley Underground March 2023 with the poem titled :

Chickens world

Busy chickens , always running on their legs

nearly forgetting to bring their small heads with them.

But…what is the prize for all that rush?

Nobody knows and the busy birds are not bored to ask .

They are just happy of some corn kernels at the end of the day

as their pay.

Selected for the art competition “Humans and the Environment ” with the artwork titled Questions by , Cista Art , London with the painting Questions , March 2023

Selected for the art exhibition The Flux Review – Creative mind with the following artwork from 5th March until 1st May 2023

Virtual Exhibitions

-Winter Reflections for the Winter Exhibition organised by Open Gallery , Halifax February 2023

-Deep in thought virtual exhibition organised by Cista Art , February 2023

Received in January 2023 :

CERTIFICATE OF ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT LUXEMBOURG ART PRIZE 2022