May 12, 2020

Meet Layla Luna

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Layla Luna.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Layla. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was super fortunate to have had the opportunity to take art classes at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History from 5th grade until I was a senior in high school. It was an amazing learning experience that laid the foundation for a lifetime pursuit of being a practicing artist. A huge shout-out goes to the community art education organizations that give kids skills, purpose, and direction. Not only did I walk away from my time at the Science and History Museum with the drive to continue making art, I left with the love of working within museums, galleries, and art education environments which has been my “day job” for the last 15 years.

Stepping out into the big, bad art world is a scary thing. I hunkered down in the shadows as a student for a long while. I got a BFA in Painting from Arizona State, a postgrad diploma in fine art from Massey University in New Zealand (what an adventure!), and an MFA in Painting from Texas Christian University. It’s really been over the last five years that my studio practice training wheels have come off. It was a bit of a wobbly ride at first but I feel that I’ve found my stride.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
You have to have thick skin to play in the art world. No one enjoys rejection but the “no’s” far outweigh the victories in this realm. If you continue to apply to exhibitions, grants, artist residencies, etc., you’ll eventually find things that fit. Celebrate the wins, mope over the losses (but just for a little bit), and keep plugging away.

Please tell us more about your art.
I tick the “painter” box on the art discipline list but I sometimes work in mixed media and sculpture as well. Over the last few years, I’ve focused on abstracted landscape paintings. A defining aspect of my studio practice is making work in series. Each body of work may differ from one to the next in regards to materials used and specific themes, but two reoccurring interests serve as a common link: our interaction with nature and the attachments we place on objects, spaces, and architecture.

The idea of home has come to embody these interests and oddly enough leaving home has been the best way for me to better understand the allure it has. Travel and artist-in-residence programs around the country play a large role in feeding my need to explore and make work in new environments. My newest adventure is becoming a first-time mom and I look forward to seeing how motherhood will influence my work.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think the most important quality in my studio practice is curiosity. What keeps a fire lit under my artistic butt is the need to understand, explore, and create new objects and images. Art is basically just a big problem-solving game. How do I make this work? How can I craft a tangible object that will represent the ephemeral weirdo thought in my head? How do I tell this story to others?

If I am not excited or frustrated or challenged by a project then I should find something else that can spark those human emotions. It’s important to have something to push against – bending your brain to find a solution is a healthy thing.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.laylaluna.com
Email: laylalunaart@yahoo.com

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