By Beth Stewart.
This is the first in an ongoing series in which The Beat Magazine 2025 takes readers “Behind The Scenes” to meet the talented creative individuals who make the London area such a vibrant arts and culture community.
Beth Stewart profiles visual artist Laura Woermke.
(Pictured: Visual Artist Laura Woermke.)
Laura Woermke is an artist who eschews traditional portraiture to capture on canvas what she describes as “moments of introspection, vulnerability, and resilience.” Her figurative works are immediately recognisable for their bold, expressive style.
(Laura Woermke, “Sarah”, oil on canvas, 10 by 8 inches, 2026.)
An intuitive painter, Woermke employs visible brushwork and layered colour to portray her subjects. It is an approach that solicits visceral connections from her viewing audience.
She says she is driven to create because painting is how she makes sense of the world. Woermke explains, “Every painting begins with a question rather than an answer, and the process itself becomes a form of discovery. Each painting is an opportunity to explore what it means to be human.”
(Pictured: Laura Woermke, “Trapped”, oil on canvas, 48 by 24 images, 2026.)
Woermke’s artistic journey began at Fanshawe College and led to the University of Windsor, where she earned her Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking. This background is important as it is through printmaking that she learned the expressive value of mark-making and layering that is so evident in her paintings.
Laura Woermke’s painting “Soft Armour” is currently on display in the 2026 Kellogg’s Art Competition.
(Visit the 2026 Kellogg’s Art Competition to see Laura Woermke’s 48-by-30-inch oil on canvas, “Soft Armour”.)
In addition to her studio practice, Woermke is the Executive Director and Curator of the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre. She sees her own work and her role in the arts community as deeply connected. Whether in the studio or the gallery, her goal is to create meaningful experiences that encourage conversation, reflection, and connection.
To learn more about Laura Woermke, visit her online at www.laurawoermke.art or on Instagram @woermke
Profiled by Beth Stewart.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009620916363
The Beat Magazine 2025 