Laamsha Young

Laamsha Young

Santa Cruz-based artist Laamsha Young has worked across three primary artistic disciplines: jewelry design, painting, and sculpture. While receiving her MFA in painting from San Jose State University, she discovered her latest passion for foam sculpture, which built upon her earlier practice in jewelry and painting.

For the past three years, this inexpensive, low-brow foam material has been the basis of her current practice: large-scale foam sculptures. These pieces often take on elaborate drippy and squishy Baroque forms that she shares, “make squeezy noises.” A philosophical interest in ornamentation connects Young’s practice in jewelry, painting, and foam sculpture. Drawing inspiration from formal design elements like "wallpaper and silverware," Young’s work examines: “Who gets to have ornament?”

Young will be featured along with over 340 Santa Cruz County artists in the 2025 40th annual Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour. She is concentrating on debuting a new collection of ornate foam candelabras, which serve as a material-based continuation of her inquiry into the role of ornament in contemporary sculpture.

Follow Laamsha on Instagram at younglaamsha

Explore her portfolio at laamshayoung.net 

Learn more about the Santa Cruz County Open Studios art tour at openstudios.artscouncilsc.org

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