Biography & Statement
Biography
Adrianna Speer is a visual artist and educator based in Ruston, Louisiana. She holds a BFA from Louisiana State University and an MFA from Louisiana Tech University, where she is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Studio Art. Speer’s work has been shown globally, including at Site: Brooklyn (NY), Verum Ultimum Gallery (OR), Baker University (KS), Red Springs Artspace (NC), Jag Gallery (FL), and Diderot Gallery (France), and has been featured in publications like QUARTERLY and Divide Magazine.
She has participated in artist residencies at Taleamor Park (IN), Burren College of Art (Ireland), and Padula Art Center (Italy), among others. Recent accolades include a Finalist Award from Art Show International, a Merit Award from Tubac Center of the Arts, and a solo exhibition at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
In 2024, Speer received both the Denis Diderot and Emerging Artist grants, enabling her to attend the Château d'Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency in France. Currently, she has a solo exhibition at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts and scheduled residencies at the Rural Residency for Contemporary Art in Italy, the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, and PROArtes México.
Statement
My approach to painting is an ongoing exploration of the intersection between personal experience and universal themes. I combine traditional observational techniques with digitally manipulated sketches to create pseudo-autobiographical mixed-media works. Narratively driven, these pieces engage with themes of identity, selfhood, social commentary, and existentialism. Through them, I aim to capture the complexity of the human experience and invite viewers to consider the space where the idiosyncratic meets the mundane.