Lauri Smith is an Australian sculpture artist. Her influences are Magic Realism and Surrealism. Lauri has completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Diploma of Special Effects Make up and Props which led to a career in TV, Film and Fashion. Collectively, all these experiences guided Lauri to her own art practice, delving into sculpture and exhibiting in group and solo shows as well as finalist exhibitions around Australia, Asia and Europe. Through her art practice she is drawn to explore her subconscious imagination, usually inspired from her bizarre and vivid dreams. She brings these dreamed visions into the physical realm through sculpture. These artworks often combine physical attributes from human and animals to create realistic hybrid creatures. She works with materials that mimic realism such as silicones and human hair as well as representations re-created in different materials. Lauri’s process will usually begin from an initial inspiration which is drawn in pastels, sculpting in oil based clay, Mold Making, casting, airbrushing and finishing such as hair punching and the hand painting of final details to bring these creatures to life