The first exhibit at the Campanella Gallery this spring semester introduces a full-time artist Laura Nugent.

Nugent’s paintings displayed in the gallery in the library are focused on geometrical forms, mostly lines with several layers and combinations of colors.

“I start with ideas I have about patterns and color relationships,” said Nugent, 44. “It’s art about art in a lot of ways. It’s not social or political.”

To express her form of art, a ceremony was held on Jan. 14 where she was present to discuss her artwork to those in attendance.

Nugent, originally from Rhode Island, moved to Kansas City 10 years ago.

While her relatives were lawyers, she knew since high school she was going to be an artist.

Nugent went to Baltimore, Md. for college, where she graduated in 1992 with a degree in painting from the Maryland Institute of College of Art.

During her studies, Nugent learned several aspects of art such as foundations studies in 2-D, 3-D, creative writing, printmaking and photography.

Nugent also spent a semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy.

With many years of experience and work, she now paints with a more narrative style, she said.

School taught her to live with other people and learn to be criticized and to also criticize others. She admits it often hurts but criticism in art is important.

Nugent was planning on becoming a full-time waitress while art being her side passion but life came with other plans and now she is happy with making a living with art alone.

The acrylic paintings she is displaying in the Campanella Gallery were a challenge for her, she said.

The large blue painting is actually the one that took the most of her time. The turquoise color was a challenge for her because it does not match very well. The painting is called “Best Laid Plans.”

It took three years for Nugent to accomplish this art work. Several sizes of canvases were presented in the Campanella Gallery at the ceremony.

“I started (the painting) with a complicated piece,” she said. “It is hard to combine turquoise.”

The title “Best Laid Plans” is an ironic name because she was imaging something perfect but never finding perfection. So, when she saw the final piece she said “that’s it that is how it is supposed to be.”

She was the first person Matt LaRose, chair of Department of Art, Design and Theatre, met in Kansas City at the Plaza Art Fair.

LaRose presented Nugent at the Campanella Gallery to show students an example of an artist making a living from art.

“I want to teach students they have to create their own career,” he said.