Laurie H. Jacobs (b.1944)
Kaleidoscopes 11, 14, 18, and 31 (2012–2015)
Medium: Digital image printed on aluminum
Dimensions: Each 24” x 24”
Location: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus, Second Floor, Blue Neighborhood, Labor and Delivery Check-in Area
About the Artwork
This series of four vibrant, digitally composed images from Laurie Jacobs’ Kaleidoscope series transforms everyday natural elements—grapes, ferns, butterflies, and peonies—into mesmerizing patterns of symmetry and rhythm. Each piece draws the viewer into a world of intricate detail, where repeated and mirrored forms create both structure and surprise.
Jacobs’ compositions are inspired by horror vacui—the artistic principle of filling every space with meaningful detail, much like the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Each image is rich in texture and movement, inviting closer observation. The glowing green grapes in Kaleidoscope 14, the delicate white peonies at the heart of Kaleidoscope 18, the deep greens of the ferns in Kaleidoscope 31, and the striking contrast of orange-and-black monarch butterflies in Kaleidoscope 11 all reveal layers of color, texture, and pattern that shift depending on the viewer’s perspective.
Jacobs describes her work as a collaboration with the observer:
“An image requires both integrity and attraction, but surprise and puzzle-solving are an important element for the viewer. The onlooker not only is interested in the artist’s creative process but becomes a participant, seeing and discovering those elements that are most appealing to that person.”
About the Artist
An Ohio native, Laurie H. Jacobs has spent her career exploring the intersection of photography, digital media, and artistic transformation. After studying at Northwestern University, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her early work involved printing film photographs onto fabric, often incorporating quilted textures. With the rise of digital photography, Jacobs embraced new tools that allowed her to manipulate and reimagine her photographic subjects with greater precision and creativity.
Using a Nikon camera and macro lenses, Jacobs captures botanical elements and natural forms that catch her eye. She then digitally deconstructs and reorganizes these images, carefully adjusting color, scale, and composition to create her kaleidoscopic works. This process—akin to a painter mixing colors on a palette—results in images that are both immediately striking and endlessly intricate upon closer examination.
Her work has been recognized by the Garden Club of America, where she has served as a photography judge and received numerous awards. She has exhibited widely across the United States, including in Ohio, Delaware, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Japan. In addition to her exhibitions, she has led workshops on digital image manipulation and frequently speaks about how modern tools are expanding artistic possibilities for photographers.
Where to See More
Laurie Jacobs’ work is featured in museums and galleries nationwide. In 2015, she published a book showcasing her Kaleidoscope series, further exploring the meditative and dynamic qualities of her compositions.