Lauren Camara is a Bronx-based, self-taught artist and graphic designer who creates layered portraits made entirely from meticulously cut paper. Her work grows out of everyday encounters and quiet, often overlooked moments, turning them into colorful visual stories that feel both personal and familiar. She is drawn to the small, meaningful details that shape people’s lives, and her portraits reflect the idea that even simple moments can hold deep emotion and significance.

 

Camara works from photographs she takes of her subjects, building each portrait from her large and ever-growing collection of papers. Color and material are at the heart of her process where every piece of paper is chosen to reflect the personality, energy, and story of the person she is depicting. She spends hundreds of hours cutting, arranging, and layering, allowing the slow, hands-on process to guide the final image. During this time, she focuses closely on the individual, thinking about their presence and character, so that the finished portrait feels thoughtful and connected rather than just visual.

 

Through this detailed and time-intensive method, Camara creates portraits that go beyond simple likeness, capturing a sense of feeling and human connection. She has described her use of paper as both symbolic and metaphorical, where the layering process reflects the many experiences and stories that shape a person. 

 

Camara speaks about how her own life experiences shape the way she approaches portraiture, bringing a deep sense of empathy and understanding to the people she represents. That lived awareness becomes part of the work itself, guiding her choices and strengthening the sense of connection that runs through each portrait.

 

Lauren is one of eight New York City artists selected by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs for City Canvas, which brings art to public spaces across the city. Her work is currently on public display at the historic 31 Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan, the Capital One Lounge at JFK Airport, and as part of the Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein in New York City. Most recently, she was one of five NYC artists selected for Google’s "Imagine If" project, with her work displayed across New York City subway stations for a month, culminating in a large-scale presentation in Times Square. She was also featured in the 2025 Photoville Festival, New York City’s largest annual photography event, and on the Art of Mastery platform, in a film showcasing her artistic journey. Her artwork has also appeared on a signature cocktail in celebration of Women’s History Month, featured across Capital One Lounges at Dallas Fort Worth, Washington Dulles, and Denver airports.

 

In 2024, Lauren debuted her NYC solo show, Stories in Paper, presented by Art on the Ave NYC. Her work is also on display in residential buildings throughout the Bronx and held in numerous private collections.

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Lauren’s work aims to highlight the beauty in simple moments and the complex stories they tell.  Her art is not just about aesthetics — it’s about the people and communities that inspire her.