Laura Parker (born Denver, Colorado, 1947) is an American conceptual, installation,[1] and social practice artist.
[3] Her participatory art installations and philosophy on soil, terroir, and locality have influenced Michelan star restaurants, wineries, and celebrity cookbooks, including Insalata’s Restaurant in San Anselmo and Robert Mondavi Winery and chef Robert Reynolds.
The book Field to Palette[5] records Parker's experiences of the Iowa landscape with her grandfather, who reportedly sampled soil and dust from the farm by taste.
Her three-dimensional work includes mixed-media and multimedia installations, incorporating elements from the natural environment such as dirt, plants, and grapevines.
These references are explored through direct experience of the soil and the food grown in it, conversation, memory and context.
In 2010, Parker collaborated with the Robert Mondavi Winery to present her Taste of Place installation at the restaurant Saison in San Francisco's Mission District as well as in Los Angeles and New York.