Laura Harden, Director Laura Harden is a San Francisco artist working in photography and painting. Harden's paintings emphasize the use of color as an expressive and spatial means. The densely worked surfaces of her paintings subsume abstract drawing issues with directly observed references to subject matter made at the motif. Her photographic work resonates with her painting, further engaging narrative and poetic imagery and at times drawing on the documentary framework. Harden held the position of full time faculty at the Academy of Art University teaching both documentary and fine art courses. She received her Bachelor of Arts in radio, television and film from the American University in Washington DC, and her MFA in Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her work has been exhibited nationally, won numerous awards and is held in private collections. She is a member of the SFMOMA's Photography Accessions Committee for 2007-2010. Harden is Co-founder and Director of the San Francisco Studio School.