The Art & Inspiration of Laurel Burch

Those who are familiar with Laurel Burch’s hopeful, whimsical, colorful art might be surprised to find she was struggling with pain for most of her life; her outlook was the polar opposite of how she felt physically. Diagnosed with severe osteopetrosis at the age of 7, Burch’s bones would easily break or fracture just from a fall or bump. Raising two children on her own was quite a challenge not just physically but financially. Art proved to be her saving grace. She dedicated herself to creativity, eventually becoming hugely successful and an inspiration worldwide. Rather than expressing her pain, she chose to lift people up, to make them feel good. In this interview, Burch talks about her courage — something she humbly says is nothing special but rather a quality we all have; we just need to use it. Ten years after her death, her spirit lives on in her artwork.