Robert LaDuke’s work pulls us in with feelings of nostalgia and images of an idyllic American life. “I’m combing dreams and memories of childhood with a touch of reality thrown in. Something about building my own worlds that never really existed appeals to me.” Memories of family members and childhood experiences are often layered in LaDuke’s paintings as obscure references that remain unknown to the viewer. The artist isn’t necessarily trying to keep his sentiments a secret; he just wants to give the viewer and opportunity to bring their own meaning or story to the painting.