Amelie Laurice, known by her moniker “Desert Moonrise”, is a self-taught Filipina-American artist based in Southern California. Deeply inspired by the vast landscapes of the Southwest, her work blends elements of memory, spirituality, and the natural world. Using a calming color palette, she translates her outdoor adventures into paintings that transcend the physical realm.  

After over a decade as a digital graphic artist, Amelie returned to traditional painting, reconnecting with the tactile, intuitive nature of the medium. Her deep love for the Southwest led her to subtly weave elements of Western culture into her work, creating a distinct blend that captures both tradition and contemporary expression.

Primarily working in acrylic, gouache, oil, and natural pigments, Amelie paints the desert as she experiences it; bathed in an ethereal glow that brings a sense of release, calmness, and euphoria. Her paintings are not merely reflections of the landscapes she encounters but explorations of their unseen, mystical resonance. Through her art, she seeks to transport viewers into these sacred spaces, reminding them of nature’s power to inspire, heal, and awaken something transcendent within.  

Since 2021, Amelie has been a founder and curator at Dorado 806 Projects, an artist-run alternative art space in Santa Monica, California.