An anonymous guest said it best when describing Laurel Fletcher’s exhibit as, “nice to see art that makes you feel very warm.”

Despite fitting in the problematically broad category that is abstract art, Fletcher has an ability to mix subtlety with vibrancy in a profoundly meaningful way in her Memorial Union exhibit “Luminous.”

The paintings on display all share a similar template, yet are all entirely different in their own way. Many of the paintings begin, or end, with a background that is largely comprised of one or two colored patterns. From there, multiple, sometimes even five or six, layers emerge from the canvas, each with a different respective pattern and color.

Taking in each layer individually, and then finally stepping back and almost watching the painting move as the striking colors and patterns blend together is an experience that every visual art aficionado and novice in Madison should check out.

It is not only Fletcher’s striking visuals that stand out, but also the clever interaction between many of the paintings and their titles. Many of the paintings command a long stare, which quickly transitions into a deconstruction of every aspect of the piece until one finally arrives at whatever they might believe the meaning to be.  

After this process is completed, the eye glances to the actual title of the piece, overlooked due to the eye-capturing quality of the pieces themselves. The viewer then discovers what the piece represents.

A piece in particular that deserves a shout-out is “Confetti Sampler,” a series of five small paintings that all have radically different colors and pattern combinations, yet they all work in concordance with one another.

What makes the pieces special is their grouping and the title, as each represent the different array of shapes and colors that confetti, and the excitement that confetti often signifies, can bring. It is truly an art piece that leaves a smile, and will evoke happy memories.

In the end, it is hard to dislike any of the paintings, and each bounce off one another to form a colorful arena for thought and imagination.

The exhibit will be housed in Memorial Union’s “Class of 1925 Gallery” until Feb. 2.