Laura Ledin
She/Her/Hers lauraledindesign@gmail.com
Laura Ledin is a Scenic Designer and Scenic Artist based in Illinois, with an MFA in Scenic Design from Illinois State University. At ISU, she designed and led the scenic painting for numerous productions while managing the Paint Shop, honing her skills in both artistic vision and production leadership. She is experienced in color theory, representational realism in 2D and 3D media, faux finishes, sculptural fabrication, and large-scale paint treatments. Her work spans everything from detailed model-making to immersive, full-scale environments, with a focus on craftsmanship, material innovation, and collaborative execution.
Her creative path didn’t begin in theater. Laura first earned two bachelor’s degrees from Illinois State University, one in History and one in Theatre Design, Production, and Technology along with minors in English, Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Classical Latin. Initially planning to attend law school, she discovered that her true passion lay in storytelling through visual design. After graduating in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, she returned to ISU to pursue theater full-time, ultimately earning her MFA and returning to her first artistic love.
Laura’s work is deeply informed by her studies in history and gender, using scenic design as a platform for social justice, empathy, and the amplification of underrepresented stories. She approaches each project as both a designer and a fabricator, blending artistic sensitivity with technical precision to create environments that invite audiences to see the world — and each other — in new ways.
Please see Artistic Statement below for more information.
Artist Statement
At the heart of every production is someone’s story, and as a designer, I feel a profound responsibility to honor it. My work is grounded in a historical lens shaped by my B.A. in History and enriched by my studies in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, where I explored how intersecting identities shape people’s lives and their place in society. These perspectives remind me that stories are received differently by each audience member depending on their own identity, and that every story, regardless of perspective, holds value and meaning.
I approach each design with rigorous research and empathy, seeking to understand not only the narrative but also the societal and personal forces that have shaped the characters’ worlds. In scenic design, it is often the smallest details that speak the loudest: the worn handle of a door, the fading paint on a wall, the uneven bricks of a neighborhood street. These elements carry history, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, that can deepen an audience’s understanding without a single word being spoken.
I am deeply aware that history is often incomplete, altered, or erased, and I see theatre as a space where underrepresented stories can be brought into the light. My goal is to depict these stories with accuracy, empathy, and justice, creating environments that invite audiences to engage with the humanity at their core. Every choice, from color palette to texture, is made with the intent to serve the story, honor its truth, and offer it the space it deserves.