Laura-Lynn Petrick: Hometown Anthems

APR 11 >> JUN 8, 2025

Thunder Bay Art Gallery proudly presents Hometown Anthems, the debut exhibition in Thunder Bay by Laura-Lynn Petrick. Growing up in Lappe, a rural township outside of Thunder Bay, Petrick began documenting her life on analog film as a teen. Dating back to 2007, a selection of Petrick’s images spans her experiences growing up in a small town to the present day, including never-before-seen images from her archive. From candid portraits to light-strewn landscapes, Hometown Anthems reads as a new ballad of Northern Ontario.

 

 

Born in 1990 of Finnish descent in Thunder Bay, Laura-Lynn Petrick is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and music documentarian. Petrick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Popular Culture from Brock University and a certification in Analog Photography from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her work has appeared in major publications including The New York Times, Interview, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post and Harper’s Bazaar, and has exhibited internationally in Toronto, New York, Paris, Berlin, and London. Petrick’s first short film, Superior, premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Her first narrative short horror film Lempo (2024) is inspired by Finnish folklore and trailblazes a new genre of Northern Ontario Gothic. She lives and works in Montreal.

Opening Reception + Artist Talk

Friday 11, April

6:30 – 8:30 pm

FREE and open to all

Join us for the opening reception and artist talk for the debut exhibition in Thunder Bay by Laura-Lynn Petrick. Growing up in Lappe, a rural township outside of Thunder Bay, Petrick began documenting her life on analog film as a teen. Dating back to 2007, a selection of Petrick’s images spans her experiences growing up in a small town to the present day, including never-before-seen images from her archive. From candid portraits to light-strewn landscapes, Hometown Anthems reads as a new ballad of Northern Ontario.

Light refreshments to be served.

Short Film Screening + Q&A

Thursday 8, May

6:30 – 8:30 pm

FREE and Open to All

Join us for a screening of short films and an in-person Q&A with photographer and filmmaker Laura-Lynn Petrick. Originally from Thunder Bay, Petrick works internationally as a photographer, filmmaker, and music documentarian. Petrick’s first short film, Superior (2017), premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Her first narrative short horror film Lempo (2024) is inspired by Finnish folklore and thrills in a new genre of Northern Ontario gothic. This event coincides with her debut solo exhibition Hometown Anthems, on view until June 8.

Image: Laura-Lynn Petrick, Choppy Waters, 35mm, 2016. Courtesy of the artist.