Lauren Muney, who has been an artist since she was very young, first became interested in drawing and imagery, then in history, historical tales, and the interactions of people in the past. After graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art, she traveled throughout the United States and overseas as a professional entertainer.

Muney’s interest in history led her to a fascination with silhouette portraits she found in antiques stores. That interest goes beyond the portraits themselves to providing the portrait experience for others. She is self-taught, using only books and descriptions from (or of) historical, often itinerant, silhouette artists. She cuts her silhouette portraits freehand with scissors in the traditional manner.

Muney prefers to create silhouettes in person at living history sites, museums, educational facilities, and other events. As she cuts, she offers a historical interpretation to the customer, discussing such details as the importance of silhouette portraits in society, class and economic divides, travel, commerce, clothing, and more. She will also create mail-order silhouettes from photographs, should a customer be too far away (or too wiggly) for a live sitting. In 2014, she was filmed for a documentary on silhouettes, “Silhouette Secrets,” produced and edited in Britain.

Lauren lives with her husband in Baltimore, Maryland, although she travels widely for museum events and shows. She is active in museum associations, helping other educators engaging the public in our past. She can plow a field with an ox and run a letterpress if needed.

Lauren Muney has been selected for the following Directories: