Laurence Selim was born in Washington, DC. She obtained her baccalauréat from the Lycée Rochambeau in 1980, and continued her studies at Georgetown University and The Johns Hopkins University, majoring in languages and literature, and minoring in fine art. From 1986 to 1991 she taught French at The Johns Hopkins University. In 1991 she left teaching to devote herself full-time to painting. She studied at the Washington Studio School under several local artists, including Lee Newman and Jack Boul.

Exhibits in which Laurence Selim’s work has appeared include: Alliance Française (Washington, DC) 2002, 2000; Courtyard Gallery (Washington, DC) 1999; Studio Gallery (Washington, DC) 1999; Selmarie (Chicago, IL) 1997; Artists’ Museum (Washington, DC) 1997; Local Color 2 (Washington, DC) 1996; Vermont Studio Center Gallery (Johnson, VT) 1996; and Claustro del Carme (Menorca, Spain) 1994.