LAURA MICKELSON
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Laura Mickelson is an American artist, designer, and documentary filmmaker whose multidisciplinary practice spans charcoal, pastel, watercolor, oil painting, and collage. A Southern California native, she holds a BA in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach, with extensive art education from Santa Barbara City College, grounding her work in both narrative and visual traditions. She has spent decades shaping narrative in the demanding world of sports television and documentary filmmaking and applies her artistic sensibility to the creation of visionary documentaries, creative design, and remote broadcast environments. Her transition to fine art reflects what she describes as a familial “creative gene” that draws her toward tactile, material expression as her truest artistic direction.
Sports Television
Thirty-year career in sports television, Creative executive team member for both FOX Sports and Bally Sports brands. Primary duties include documentary film & features, set & studio design oversight and production.
art start
Pushed by Covid and a deep passion to release a dormant tactile creative passion my artist self-emerged. With over 24 units in Studio Art study at Santa Barbara City College and chosen for the The Atkinson Gallery, Santa Barbara City College Art Department's gallery exhibition 2022.
film awards & good stuff
'CONFETTI: TINY VICES & VIRTUES’ Winter 2025 - Atelier Gallery - ‘Mini’s’ - Acrylic on Panel
‘FAIR PRACTICE’ Summer 2025 - Dama Art Gallery - ‘Reimagined #61- #64’ - Acrylic on Panel
‘WOMEN IN ART 2023’ - Las Laguna Art Gallery – ‘Creama Slice’ - Oil on Panel
‘SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE’ – Student Gallery Show, 2022 Atkinson Gallery Exhibit
‘CAPE COD: A JOURNEY TO THE BIGS’ – Award of Merit San Diego Documentary Film Festival.
‘MAJOR STEPHEN REICH - A SOLDIERS STORY’ - Best in show at the GI Film Festival, New Haven Film Festival 2015, Best documentary Veterans Film Festival.
‘MLK JR. THE BOXER & PREACHER’ Telly - Best Documentary
‘A CUP OF COFFE’ with DICK ENBERG’ - San Diego Sports Emmy
‘REPLAY- TRENTON VS. CALTHOLIC CENTRAL’ - Best Branded Content - Golden Lion, Cannes Lion International Advertising Integrated, Gold Andy, One Show Pencils, One Show Entertainment Pencils, Audience Choice Winner-Product Integration
‘20 TRICKS SNOWBOARDING’ - Best Action Sports film, Snowmass Video Awards
‘FOX SPORTS WORLD’ - PROMAX/BDA International Award Gold & Silver awards for the Best Sports ID Campaign
rebrand & launch networks
Bally Sports rebrand & launch
Lead the 2021 Bally Sports re-brand of production elements for the newly owned Sinclair regions, including; development of a ‘new network look’ across the individual regional markets. Completing an upgrade of the design, look, and feel for all regional Studios, Remote Sets along with designing new desk for all regions giving the local channels a national appeal and brand.
launch networks
Bally Sports &
2013 RSN re-brand and design
Performed a critical role in launching various new networks including; FOX Sports Español, FOX Sports World, FitTV, Heath Network, WebMD and FOX SPORTS. Orchestrated department building and staff structuring, revamped promotional departments, branded networks overall look and graphic design package, devised financial and production guidelines along with systematizing production protocol and procedures. Key member of the original FOX SPORTS launch team, produced & directed portions of the renowned ‘Same Game, New Attitude’ campaign for NFL on FOX which established the FOX Network as the new home of the NFL.
established film company
Formed film production company, Tonar Films which produced and distributed action sports videos including; ‘Vertical Axis’ In-line skating, ‘Start n’ Stop’-skating and ‘20-Tricks Snowboarding’ with songs by new band, Green Day. Conceived and produced the films/home video releases, obtained preliminary project funding, staffed production and creative team and sold direct to consumer and sponsor released video unit.