Bio

Layla Andrews (b.1997) is an artist who has spent the majority of her career working between south London and Brighton.  
 
She’s best known for her figurative paintings that draw inspiration from a combination of the natural world, familial narratives, and miscellaneous second-hand objects. Her artworks often feature a diverse cast of recurring characters, ranging from human figures to crocodiles and crustaceans.
 
Central to Layla’s practice is storytelling, which celebrates simple joys, the complexities of identity, and the juxtaposition of unlikely pairs. Whilst deeply personal, she hopes the ambiguous nature of her work welcomes interpretation and, therefore, accessibility to the viewer.

She was formerly the artist in residence of Brixton Village, where she unveiled two large-scale sculptures and curated an exhibition for International Women's Day. 

In 2016, her work caught the attention of former President Obama, who praised Layla's work and encouraged her to further her art career. In 2022, she was named one of The Evening Standards' 22 London women changing the world.

Layla draws upon her own mixed-race heritage and working-class upbringing, shaped within a matriarchal household, to inform and enrich her practice. Her work is grounded in the belief that art, in whatever form it may take, should be inclusive and accessible to all.

Links

Website