Criminal justice and psychology grad raises awareness for social issues with public artwork

Local artist Lauren Starling has made an everlasting impact in the Fargo/Moorhead community since graduating from Minnesota State Moorhead in 2017 with a B.A. in criminal justice and psychology. From photography, to creating murals, to raising awareness for social issues, Lauren has painted the area with passion while giving back to the community.

 As an artist, Lauren has had the opportunity to showcase their talents all over the area -- one of their most popular works being the #FargoMarioWall in downtown Fargo, painted in 2018.

Lauren's most admirable quality is that after experiencing hardships like child abuse, assault, and poverty, they are still described as someone who lights up every room they enter, physically with their presence and visually with their art.

Lauren's artistic goal is to leave a lasting impact on others when they encounter their work. As well as impacting people's lives through art, Lauren works for local nonprofit, Centre Inc., where they assist in helping incarcerated women reintegrate back into society.

Lauren's dedication is evident as they continue to teach public and private art classes through a local paint and sip business, expand their artistic skills, and bring more social change to the Fargo/Moorhead area through volunteer work.

 Lauren has accomplished incredible things over the years, including being a self-taught artist, having completed over 100 large scale pieces, helping other artists find their flow, and being an advocate for art in the F/M area.

Their dedication shows as they continue to share their experiences and knowledge by creating publicly accessible works of art to expand art audiences and support the artistic wellbeing of our region.