Reflection on Fred Tomaselli’s “Portrait of Laura, 1994”
“Portrait of Laura, 1994” was displayed at the Alternative Medicine exhibit at Davison College in February 2026. This exhibit aimed to represent the experiences of individuals and communities with the US pharmaceutical industry. Initially, Fred Tomaselli’s painting does not seem to be about the pharmaceutical industry. It simply displays the night sky. This is a picture that most people have seen before. However, a closer look will reveal that each star is labeled with the name of a drug. The artwork is an unconventional portrait of Tomaselli’s wife, Laura, through the lens of her medications and her zodiac sign. I found this painting to be incredibly relatable. Every person has a star sign and every person has had experiences with drugs of one kind or another. Tomaselli’s portrait actually functions as a mirror for the viewer. The artist asks the viewer to relate to Laura, to compare himself to her, and perhaps even to judge her. That judgment will only be reflected back at the person standing in the exhibit; the viewer knows that he could easily have a star map of his own. Tomaselli’s artwork is unique because it becomes extremely personal after initially seeming generalized or mundane.
https://jamescohan.viewingrooms.com/artworks/17271-fred-tomaselli-portrait-of-laura-12-16-94-1994
