Arts and Culture

Light Box - First Floor

Silver Koi Pond I

Art Information

Lauren Hua
Silver Koi Pond I
Medium: Acrylic, Acrylic wash, Mixed Media and 24k Gold Foil

This piece was done with waved layers of modeling paste sculpted to create ripples in water, on top of acrylic washes to imbue a watercolor effect. Every layer is required to dry before the next can be applied, therefore, this work took several weeks to complete. The koi themselves are done in gold acrylic with and embellished with genuine 24k gold foil to capture the life and movement of sunlight on scales.

Tranquil and calm, this piece is part of a diptych meant to give a sense of peace and contentedness. Both horizontally and vertically, these pieces were painted so the water ripples and koi appear to flow seamlessly from one canvas to the other no matter how they are displayed. There is a subtle complexity to be unraveled, take your time to contemplate it and find peace in the meditative experience.

About the Artist

Lauren Hua is an abstract expressionist painter who uses art as a way to blend her American upbringing with her Asian heritage. Carrying her heritage to the canvas as the subject, her pieces are free flowing, with both Japanese and Chinese influences in the brush strokes and compositions. Yet they deviate from the traditional, structured calligraphy lines with bold textures and metallic accents that are unapologetically independent and self assured.

 Her embrace of the abstract realm is a break from the exacting regime of her past. There’s no pressure to be perfect, there’s nothing that has to be “exactly so” or be left open to criticism. Abstract painting can be anything you want it to be, as both the creator and as the viewer. What one person feels and interprets from a painting can be completely different from another or from the artist themselves. It can even change from day to day, moment to moment depending on mood or whim. But that doesn’t make it wrong, if anything the conceptional fluidity makes them better able to be more widely appreciated. 

Layers upon layers, modeling paste is built on top of multiple acrylic washes and finished with metallic flourishes. As each layer must dry before the next can be placed, it is not uncommon for paintings to take over a month to complete. She is recognized by her incorporation of texture in an increasingly 2D world, giving her paintings life and dimension. The ridges, cracks and valleys are striking and visceral, meaning to be felt.

Artist Statement:
“Above all, I am an avid believer that beauty should be experienced at every possible moment, whether that is found in the perfect latte, a breathtaking view, or a stolen kiss. I strive to create art that communicates that belief, one that does not shock and awe, but gives the viewer a muted joy, peace and contentment that can be experienced everyday.”

Any inquiries about the art or commissions can be sent to LaurenHuaArt@gmail.com

See more of her work on Instagram.

Lauren Hua

Gallery Exhibits

The Round Rock Public Library presents cultural and art-themed exhibits and displays in the Gallery areas on the second and third floors of the library. Exhibits can be viewed when the library is open. If you are an artist or part of a group that would like to exhibit your work on our gallery walls or display case, please contact Julie Chapa, 512-218-7014.

Main Gallery - Third Floor

History in Focus - People, Politics, and Pivotal Events through the Lens of Chris Niedenthal

The theme of this project links humanities, arts and media! The Round Rock Public Library welcomes Photojournalist Chris Niedenthal, recipient of the prestigious World Press Photo Award, along with the exhibition of some of his most iconic works.

He is admired for taking some of the most captivating images of life behind the Iron Curtain. His pictures tell the story of the fall of communism and are visual chronicles of social and political changes in Central and Eastern Europe. His photographs have been featured on the covers of leading publications like Newsweek and Time Magazine and published in Der SpiegelForbes Stern, Geo, and Paris Match. His recent work documents the refugee crisis on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Last year, a huge retrospective of Niedenthal’s work was held in Warsaw and visited by over 150,000 people. You can view a subset of this exhibition through November 20.

Niedenthal tells us that he is always most interested in capturing regular people’s emotions, gestures, and facial expressions. All of his works carry his signature focus on capturing emotions and personality. His photographs help historical events come alive.

2024

September – Save the Salamander

August – Center Art Club of Round Rock

July – Round Rock Baha’i Community

June – Joanna Karnas

May – Round Rock Preservation

April – Sung Cha Brooks

March – Linda Figg

February – Na’jee Thomas

January – Lauren Hua

2023

December – Natalya Holbrook

November – Jessica Snowden

October – Williamson County Art Guild

September – Janet Oh and Friends

August – Baca Center Art Club

July – Gere Leeds Cox and her daughters, Pam Chamberlain and Tracie Leeds Storie

2022

December – Natalya Holbrook

November – Judith Estrada Garcia

October – Judith Estrada Garcia

September – Clarence Born

August – Baca Center Art Club

July – Fun Art Collective

June — Ellen Greeney

May — Sung Cha Brooks

April — Jessica Snowden

March — Paul Verizzo

February — Mahidhar Panyam

January — Mahidhar Panyam

2021

December — Diantha Grace French

November — Sung Cha Brooks

October — Skip Hunt Photography

September — Janet Oh

August — The Center Art Club

July — Henry Huey

June — Artists of Central Texas (ACT)

May — Charlie Favret

April — Paula Rasmussen

March — B. R. Martindale

February — Melissa Fontenette-Mitchell

January — Clarence Born

2020

December — Marinda Stewart

November — Marinda Stewart

October — Selections from Students of Chanta Sheidow

September — Helen Park

August — Wes Odell

July — Center Art Club

June — New Library Photos Exhibit

May — New Library Photos Exhibit

April — Sung Cha Brooks

March — Mary Olivera & Nancy Lilly

February — Melissa Fontenette-Mitchell

January — Paul Verizzo

2019

December — The Big Little Art Show

November — Links Incorporated, Lone Star (TX) Chapter

October — Sung Cha Brooks

September — Center Art Club

August — Save Our Salamander

July — Clarence Born

June — Chesiel John

May — Rosemarie Good

April — Henry Huey

March — Paula Rasmussen

February — Bill Pickett

January — Shefali O’Hara

2018

December — Sung Cha Brooks

November — Clarence Born

October — Williamson County Art Guild

September — Janet Oh, Joey Roberts Show

August — Marinda Stewart

July — Baca Center Art Club

June — Charlotte Barbini, Janet Fulk

May — Charles Faires

April — Paul Verizzo

March — Suki Paek Gluzinski

February — RRBHO

January — Chanta Sheidow

2017

December — Sarah Fournie

November — Chanta Sheidow art students

October — Sung Cha Brooks

September — Janet Oh, Joey Roberts Show

August — Baca Center Art Club

July — Sarah Kluge

June — Carolyn Johnson

May — Shefali O’Hara

April — Lisa Zinna

March — Charles Faires

February — RROC Students

January —Clarence Born

2016

December — Ida Villanueva

November — Jean Hestand

October — Ashley (West Africa)

September — Baca Center Art Club

August — Marinda Stewart

July — Joey Roberts, Janet Oh, Marhs Eaves, Kimberly Dixon

June — Libby Chase

May — Danoh Exhibit

April — Anita de la Cruz

March — Sarah Kluge

February — BHO Photo Exhibits

January — Casey Janowski

2015

December — Artography Austin

November — Jean Hestand

October — Pamela Cotton

September — Janet Oh

August — Baca Center Art Club

July — Clarence Born

June — Chanta Sheidow

May — Julie Roberts

April — Janet Fulk and Charlotte Barbini

March — Kristin Molloy

February — Black History Month

January — Jessica Gray

2014

December — Janet Oh and Nelda Sheets

November — Debra King-Isaacs

October — Baca Center Art Club

September — Alexis Templeton

August — Kimberly Ruth Dixon

July — Clarence Born

June — Rob Monroe

May — The Serie Project

April — Jerikay Gayle

March — Xueren Deng

February — Don Tate

January — Baca Center Art Club

2013

December — Daniel Adams

November — Ted Keller

October — Baca Center Art Club- Day of the Dead Exhibit

September — Deborah King-Isaacs

August — Sharen Craddock Drawings

Scroll to Top