In 2015, I graduated with A BACHELORS OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE & A MINOR IN DRAWING, PAINTING, & PRINTMAKING FROM PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY. Portland is my hometown and I create my art from my studio in SE portland.

A LOT OF MY WORK IS TIED TO MY PERSONAL IDENTITY, THINGS I’M DRAWN TO, THINGS I’VE HELD ON TO, OR THINGS I WANT TO GET RID OF THE MOST.

WEAVING TOGETHER FRAGMENTS & TEXTURES ALLOWS ME TO PRESENT MYSELF TO MY VIEWERS IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FROM MY PIECES THAN I DO. MOST OF MY WORK IS TIED TO EMOTIONS, & MEMORIES. MY WORK OFTENTIMES IS AN EXTENSION OF THE PERSON I AM.

MY NEWEST INTEREST IS IN REFLECTIVE MATERIAL. I AM ENJOYING EXPLORING HOW LIGHT CAN CHANGE COLOR. MY REFLECTIVE PIECES LOOK DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU VIEW THEM, & THE LIGHT THAT HITS THE PIECE. THIS REMINDS ME THAT EVERYTHING CHANGES & THAT YOU CAN’T EVER SEE SOMETHING THE SAME WAY SOMEBODY ELSE DOES. SOME OF MY MOST CURRENT WORK CASTS RAINBOWS WHEN NATURAL LIGHT HITS IT. THIS ALLOWS LIGHT & SHADOW TO COMPLETELY ALTER THE WORK, CREATING A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PIECE & THE TIME OF DAY IT IS VIEWED.

I think good work is relatable, enhances the community, and is inspiring. Great artwork transforms everyday spaces. It inspires people to be their best self— making them feel seen and celebrated for who they are.

I enjoy creating interactive work. My work utilizes creative solutions, tactile materials, reflective or holographic colors, and dynamic integrated lighting strategies. Material choice has the power to entirely change the way a space is used and the feeling someone gets when they look at or interact with the work. I hope that the viewer gets something new from my art the longer they look at or think about about the work.

To read more about my story, check out this article by Portland State University (Click here)

If you are interested in talking about my work in more detail, I’d love to hear from you! you can reach me by email at artbyayla@yahoo.com or through my contact page click here <3