Laura Rathe Fine Art (LRFA) is pleased to announce the opening of Of the Sun, debuting Saturday, May 2, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at its downtown Austin location. This marks the third collaborative exhibition pairing Texas-based female artists Meredith Pardue and Lucrecia Waggoner, whose works engage in a striking, harmonious dialogue.
Pardue’s atmospheric, gesture-driven paintings evoke the quiet poetry of the natural world, while Waggoner’s porcelain sculptures introduce a tactile, sculptural lyricism rooted in similar organic inspiration. Together, their work creates a seamless interplay, ethereal painted surfaces unfolding like landscapes for Waggoner’s delicate forms, resulting in a pairing that feels both intuitive and exquisitely composed.
Meredith Pardue presents a luminous body of new large-scale paintings that fuse the grounded essence of minerals and gemstones with an airy, fleeting sense of breath. Her layered compositions transition from rich jewel tones to soft, opalescent veils of color, capturing and reflecting light with a subtle, living energy. These works feature intricate chromatic fields and textured, overlapping forms that expand visually beyond the canvas, inviting viewers into immersive, expansive environments.
Lucrecia Waggoner’s porcelain sculptures transform a traditionally delicate medium into richly dimensional works of art. Composed of individually handcrafted vessels, either as singular pieces or intricate installations, her work draws from organic elements such as florals, landscapes, and celestial forms. Enhanced with 22k gold, palladium, and layered pigments, her sculptures embody a luminous interplay of light, texture, and movement, offering a refined sense of elegance and quiet beauty.
Both artists have achieved international recognition, with their work held in prestigious private, corporate, and institutional collections around the world. Pardue, based in Wimberley, Texas, has work included in notable collections such as the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film and the University of Texas at Austin, as well as major corporate collections including J.Crew and ExxonMobil. Her work is also featured in hospitality and healthcare spaces, including The Ritz-Carlton and Baylor Scott & White Health.
Laura Rathe, Image courtesy of www.laurarathe.com/
Waggoner’s work is equally celebrated, with collectors including Wells Fargo, W Hotels, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Halliburton. Her sculptural practice continues to resonate with collectors and designers drawn to its architectural and organic sensibilities.
The opening reception for Of the Sun will take place on Saturday, May 2, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at LRFA’s Austin gallery, located at 907 West 5th Street. The exhibition will remain on view through June 6, 2026.
Founded in 1998 by gallery owner Laura Rathe, Laura Rathe Fine Art has become a leading contemporary art destination with locations in Houston and Dallas, and an expanding presence in Austin. With more than 25 years of experience, the gallery is known for presenting a dynamic roster of established and mid-career artists working across diverse media. LRFA actively engages collectors, institutions, and the public through exhibitions, projects, and major art fairs, including Art Miami and Dallas Art Fair.
Through exhibitions like Of the Sun, LRFA continues to elevate contemporary voices while creating meaningful artistic experiences that resonate on both a regional and global scale.
