Laura Papworth is a Canadian metalsmith and artist based in Toronto, Ontario. She was raised in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Toronto in 2015 to obtain her BFA in Design from Toronto Metropolitan University. After working primarily in digital pursuits, she sought to experiment with different mediums of creative art. This led her to begin studying Jewellery Arts at George Brown College in 2022. Papworth’s dedication to her studies has led to her winning an award sponsored by the Canadian Jewellers’ Association for the highest GPA in 2024 and being granted a summer residency at Harbourfront Centre in the same year.
In her graduating year, Papworth won awards sponsored by Mejuri and Craft Ontario. Her education in design and jewellery has led her to discover a passion for combining her technical training with the use of alternative materials and non-precious metals in creating art jewellery. Her work takes particular inspiration from the playful forms and colours seen in Toronto’s urban environment. Papworth’s decade-long journey of living in Toronto has given her a profound appreciation for the city as a green metropolis. In this place, diverse modes of transportation are encouraged, innovation thrives and communities are built. She seeks to apply the collaborative nature of cities to her work, centring collaboration as the driving force behind the development of her designs. Laura was awarded and began her role as a full-time Artist-in-Residence at Harbourfront Centre on June 1, 2025.