Meet the Artist
I’ve always loved creating art. As a child, it was my outlet and something that helped me feel grounded. I went to a magnet middle school and a high school that focused on the arts. Even though I was always interested in creating, I didn’t feel connected to any specific subject. I usually painted what I was told to paint, and most of the figures were white models.
After high school, I tried to continue my studies in college, but I found myself stuck and unable to move forward. I didn’t have family support to help me stay in school or continue my education. At the same time, I was navigating a very difficult environment that made it hard to focus or feel safe. Eventually, I let go of my dream of becoming an artist. I didn’t believe I had enough training or experience. I felt disconnected from the art world and unworthy of calling myself an artist at all.
Everything changed when I announced my pregnancy on social media. My high school film teacher reached out and asked, “Where are you going to give birth?” I assumed the hospital because that was all I ever knew. Growing up, the only thing I learned about babies was to avoid having them. My mother warned me about how hard it would be. I didn’t have any real understanding of what birth looked like or could be. I thought you just went to the hospital and somehow came out with a baby. I knew it would hurt, but I didn’t understand the full journey.
That one question opened the door to my first home birth with my son. It was powerful. My midwives worked in pairs and took a hands-off approach that gave me space to connect with myself. Early in labor, I walked around the neighborhood. Later, I transitioned in the bathtub. When it was time, I got into the birth pool. I was in my son’s room and it felt right. I started to panic and one of my midwives calmly told me to reach down. I did, and felt his head. It was covered in hair. I let my body push and he came into my hands in the most magical way.
My second birth was much harder. I struggled. Instead of surrendering, I felt like I gave up. I realized how important midwifery care had been for my first birth but my second taught me how important they are in keeping us safe. They had me in different positions to help her move down. My daughter still arrived at home, but the journey was nothing like my first. It was challenging in so many different ways.
I kept asking myself why. That is when I started seeing the word doula. I had heard it before, but this time it stood out. I realized that was the kind of support I had needed. So I became a doula.
Even though I was passionate, I found it hard to make the lifestyle work. I didn’t have a strong village or a reliable one. One day, I was scrolling online and came across a painting that reminded me of my own birth. That night, something lit up in me. I felt inspired and picked up my paintbrush again. I’ve been painting ever since.
In 2024, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. This diagnosis has deepened my understanding of resilience and the importance of representation in healing spaces. Art has become a therapeutic outlet for me all over again. It offers a way to process emotions and connect with others facing similar challenges. Studies have shown that creative activities like painting can improve self-esteem, hope, and social support among individuals like me.
Growing up, I didn’t feel deeply connected to my parents. That longing shaped the way I show up for my own children. I want them to feel the kind of love I wished for as a child: present, gentle, and unconditional. This is why I advocate for skin-to-skin contact. It helps build a strong foundation between parent and child and creates space for lasting connection.
My children remind me to slow down and live in the moment. They’ve taught me that love is not just something we say, it’s something we show. The bond I share with them has helped reshape my understanding of what love truly feels and looks like. Their full acceptance of me has allowed me to show up as my most authentic self.
My work as a doula has given me a deep, intimate view of birth and parenting. I’ve witnessed strength, surrender, joy, fear, and transformation. Each experience is unique and sacred. These stories deserve to be seen and honored. My goal is to empower those voices and share those journeys through my art. Through my art, I want parents to see the beauty in their own journey, even when it feels difficult. There is sacredness in the struggle and deep meaning in simply being present.
I use vibrant paint to capture the emotion, intimacy, and power of birth, parenting, and connection. My work is inspired by real moments, my own experiences, and the stories I’ve witnessed as a mother and a doula.
I focus on Black and Brown families because we deserve to see ourselves reflected in these sacred spaces. I paint skin-to-skin moments, laboring bodies, nursing, holding, and resting, the quiet and the chaotic. My brush holds space for the vulnerability, the strength, and the softness that come with parenthood.
I don’t paint for perfection. I paint to honor truth, memory, and presence. My work invites people to slow down, to feel, to remember. It’s not just art, it’s advocacy, healing, and celebration all at once.
These pieces have been collected by hospitals, birth centers, lactation rooms, and businesses dedicated to supporting new parents. They serve not only as decorative elements but also as affirmations of the profound journey of birth and family life.
Through my art, I aim to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of parenthood, offering images that reflect the warmth, joy, and strength found in family connections. Whether displayed in a hospital room or given as a heartfelt note, my prints are designed to uplift and inspire.
Are you looking for meaningful art or a speaker to bring heart and connection to your space or event? I’d love to be part of it.
You can also support my mission by following along on social media and purchasing art for yourself or your space. Every share, like, and order helps keep this work alive and growing
Lauren J. Turner Fine Art PO Box 70146 Baltimore, MD
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