STORIES FROM PAFA

Laura Sallade

Growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania can be a challenge when you’re considering pursuing a life in the arts. Making the choice of where to study can be a difficult one.

After visiting art schools in Philadelphia and seeing the level of work a PAFA student generates, Laura Sallade (Cert. ’13) was convinced she had to be a part of what she found so inspiring.

“I want to be around people who are great at what they do. I want to be pushed.”

Initially drawn to a classical approach, she switched from pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to the Certificate Program so she could spend more time in the studio. What began as an attempt to cut away unwanted sections of a print with a razor blade, Laura’s intricate cutting of translucent paper reveals patterns evocative of nature, science, and memories.

Art by Laura
Cut paper art by Laura
Art by Laura
Art by Laura

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Kristin Geiger-Rayca, Digital Communications and Website Manager

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About PAFA

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the United States’ first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers a world-class collection of American art, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and educational opportunities in the fine arts. The PAFA Museum aims to tell America's diverse story through art, expanding who has been included in the canon of art history through its collections, exhibitions, and public programs, while classes educate artists and appreciators with a deep understanding of traditions and the ability to challenge conventions. PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner.