A Paper Artist in Progress
We’ve enjoyed witnessing the career of paper artist Layla May Arthur. We’ve featured her paper-cutting work in Gallery before, and it’s fantastic to have seen her skills and career progress since we first met her as a placement student at Gallery in 2016!
Relying on technique and attention to detail, Layla cuts elaborate patterns and entices sculptural forms from the paper. She aspires to leave her audience both fascinated with the craftsmanship of the paper piece and the story behind it.
Layla’s practice explores how paper changes appearance under the influence of light. Playing with which parts of the paper to cut away and which parts to leave, her work projects theatrical shadows onto the audience and its surrounding. The light and shadows sculpt the space allowing the audience to experience the paper, placing them and their interpretations literally within the work.
A Paper Artist in Progress, combines three series of work; Jersey; My Childhood Home (2019), the Storyteller, the Listener and our Story (2021) and Unfolded (2023-2024). All of the works are inspired by stories and in each the paper is manipulated differently, as Layla continues to develop new techniques. A newly commissioned sound composition has been created by Jersey composer Christina Orchard as part of the exhibition.
Layla’s paper works have been exhibited internationally including museums in Switzerland, Italy, Denmark and several in America and the Netherlands. In 2023, She received the prestigious Dutch Mondriaan Fund for young artists.
Exhibition open from Thursday 23 May to Sunday 30 June 2024 Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:30am to 6pm
ArtHouse Jersey at Capital House
Free / no booking required
