F5: Lauren Andersen Talks TV Playlists, Takashi Murakami, + More

Lauren Andersen has always had hustle and drive, whether she was pursuing her career goals or working retail jobs when she was younger. Her college professors provided rich opportunities that were just as impactful as any standard coursework. “They lent me cameras they had used to photograph Andy Warhol, gave me honest critiques, and appreciated my interest in darkroom techniques,” Andersen says. “Looking back, I recognize the value of that education, though I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time.”

When Andersen arrived in New York to study at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, her world expanded in ways that she never could have imagined. She didn’t visit many museums when she was growing up, but when she arrived in the city, she readily embraced the energy around her. “The Dinner Party” by Judy Chicago, on view at the Brooklyn Museum, left a lasting impression on Andersen. A tribute to trailblazing women throughout history, it still serves a reminder to embrace her own unique path.

Lauren Andersen

Now Andersen treasures her own art collection. She has acquired pieces from nearly every place she has visited in the world, with a special fondness for those from Cuba. While visiting the island nation, Andersen not only admired the landscape, but also spent time with street photographers. She learned a great deal from their resilience and vision, and hopes that some of this same spirit is evident in her own work.

In 2019, Andersen founded S•E•N Creative, a boutique agency in Oakland, California that provides interior and architectural visual assets. As creative director, she brings her distinctive vision to each project. Andersen’s sharp eye for detail allows her to uncover insights into every design or feature. The studio’s images – still or moving – tell their own compelling stories.

Building a company from the ground up was a challenge, but today Andersen deftly manages day-to-day operations while expanding offerings for clients. Collaboration is what keeps it all exciting for her. “I love how shoots bring together a team of talented individuals,” she notes. “When they’re done, it feels like a celebration of the designer’s hard-won work.”

Today, Lauren Andersen joins us for Friday Five!

Design: Michael Hilal \\\ Photo: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative

1. Nicholas Bijan Pourfard lighting

Designer and client Michael Hilal introduced me to Nicholas’ beautiful lamps, all crafted from hand-thrown ceramic. The textures and colors he creates are incredibly unique. I invested in a black mushroom lamp, and it’s become one of my favorite pieces in my living room. This image is from Michael Hilal’s Her Study in Kips Bay Dallas, featuring a large version of Nicholas’ mushroom lamp.

Photo: Lauren Andersen

2. Artist Collections

I love observing how other artists curate their collections. I’m fascinated by what they choose to collect and how they display their treasures. Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico City was a true treasure trove of collections from her and Diego. I’ve also visited Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch, which offers a striking study in opposites.

Photo: Lauren Andersen

3. Francois Halard’s Polaroid Book: 56 Days in Arles

I love seeing what artists created during COVID. I’ve admired Halard’s interior images for years and I felt a kinship when he was in lockdown and could only photograph his own home. In the book he talks about a lot of Polaroid fails – a lot didn’t make it into the book. It reminds me of exploring digital pinhole photography during the lockdown. All I could do was look at my own home and neighborhood.

Photo: Courtesy of Apple TV

4. TV Playlists

The variety of music I discover through favorite shows always has me rushing to Spotify. I find so many new artists this way – it’s like a modern mixtape. I especially loved the soundtracks for Bad Sisters and Shrinking.

Photo: Lauren Andersen

5. Murakami: Monsterized

This exhibit at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco brought smiles to our family. It was immersive and positive, yet juxtaposed with the monsterization of characters and nature. I see a lot of Murakami’s influence in interior design, blending older references with modern sensibilities. Curator Laura W. Allen wrote: “Murakami adds the “technicolor palette, goofy expressions, and eclectic mixture of motifs” that have become his trademark – boldly remixing tradition to reflect the complexity of the present day.

Photography work by Lauren Andersen:

Design: Noz Nozawa \\\ Photo: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative

Noz Nozawa consistently attracts clients who aren’t afraid of color. She effortlessly blends rich tones, whimsy, and practicality into every design. I loved the addition of the ladder in this San Francisco Victorian. I also enjoy adding a human element to images whenever possible. These spaces are lived in, and introducing a bit of motion always excites me visually.

Design: Michael Hilal \\\ Photo: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative

I love the juxtaposition of the wallpaper pattern with the overall serenity of the room. This is one of the few ‘end of the bed’ seating areas I’d actually want to hang out in. The warmth of the gold velvet feels so inviting next to the cool blues that carry through the rest of the space.

Design: Noz Nozawa \\\ Photo: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative

Bay Area fashion icon Sherri McMullen opened her first store in San Francisco last year. She brought on Noz Nozawa to design the store and worked with artist Taylor Smalls on this portrait. I love working with these powerful female talents and teams. Sherri is fearless, and through her and Noz, I’ve been introduced to a whole new world of fashion and style.

Design: Nancy Evars \\\ Photo: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative

Nancy Evars’ San Francisco Decorator Showcase – This color perfectly captured Nancy, whom I’ve known for several years and photographed multiple times. This was her oxblood era, which I love for designers.

Digital Pinhole Photography \\\ Photo: Lauren Andersen

I started my photography journey in high school, learning pinhole photography. Digital pinhole became my creative outlet during COVID. Tired of seeing the same sights on our walks, I found some homemade digital pinhole kits on Etsy. The results are dreamy and painterly. Now, this is how I love to capture my travel moments – I appreciate the unpredictability, dreaminess, and almost film-like quality it gives, without the wait or expense of film.