By
Lauri Novak
Piece description from the artist
The skeletal grandeur of Whitby Abbey rises against a bleached sky, its Gothic stonework rendered in luminous black and white. At the heart of the composition, the sun pierces the apex of the ruined chancel window, erupting into a perfect starburst — a celestial focal point that transforms ancient architecture into something transcendent.
Novak's masterful use of monochrome strips away all distraction, allowing the eye to travel the full vertical drama of the structure: from the deep, shadow-striped foreground, where bars of light fall across the grass like cathedral rays, upward through tiers of pointed arches and ornate tracery, to the crowning spires that punctuate a pale, open sky.
The interplay of light and void is the true subject here. Where walls once stood, sky breathes through empty window frames. Where a roof once sheltered, sunlight now pours freely — and Novak captures that paradox with quiet authority. Ruin becomes radiance.
A compelling work for collectors drawn to architectural photography, sacred spaces, and the poetry of impermanence.
Lauri Novak is an award-winning fine art photographer, mentor and author based outside of Chicago. She has an eye for photographing architecture, traveling as much as possible and just wandering in nature with her camera.
Having grown up within an hour of one of the most architecturally rich cities sparked an interest in architecture early in her life that has been a recurring theme in her work over the years. The camera was ever-present in her life growing up in one form or another, including the many family vacation photos that were taken by her mother. Lauri received her first camera when she was ten. Since then the world has opened up to her through her view-finder and has brought into focus many of the details in life that are often overlooked.
Traveling was also a big part of her life. Her family went somewhere new every year which allowed Lauri to see different parts of the country, different cities and landscapes across the United States. This opened up so many opportunities for photographs and the wandering spirit which is part of who she is to this day. On her own, she traveled overseas and discovered different cultures, amazing historical architecture and the incredible beauty that is everywhere in this world. All the while capturing what she saw with her camera.
One of the questions Lauri is asked most often both by viewers of her work and other photographers is, “How did you see that?”. She works hard to show different perspectives, unique angles and the everyday details of a wide variety of subjects.
Lauri also has a passion for helping others, offers mentorships and runs an online SEE! Photography community for other photographers. She also shares her inspiration and motivational tips for photographers as an author at Photofocus.com.
Her work has been featured in Our USA Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Kane County Chronicle and on WGN-TV. She has had images in several galleries in Chicago, Minneapolis and as part of an international exhibition in Barcelona. Lauri’s work is displayed in hospitals, businesses and hotels around the world.
You can find more of her work at laurinovak.com
An Art Advisor will get in touch with you today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your artwork needs.
Get Started
