Layla Bagwell

“The artworks in my exhibition all focus on the theme of my self expression and how that expression has been shaped, informed, or oppressed by the circumstances around me. I wanted to have pieces that were celebratory, but also pieces that were influential. These artworks focused on conveying meaning through messaging.”

Sign of the Times

Collage [37 x 27 cm]

“A collage composed of various headlines from the year 2020, intended to inform and invoke emotion in viewers regarding the rollercoaster of a year it has been. 2020 is commonly referred to as being the worst year humankind has experienced due to the constant stream of bad events. This piece aims to capture the essence of one year in a singular art piece, by means of chaotic juxtaposition and a rough timeline format.”

Phases

Watercolor on paper [51 x 34 cm]

“This piece is inspired by modern propaganda and protest posters. The saying written on it with ink is representative of the common harmful narrative associated with queer people coming out, which is that they are simply going through a phase. I found that the moon was a simple way to represent the message I was trying to get across in a simple but effective way.”

Hues of Music

Acrylic [46 x 67 cm]

“This piece is a recreation of three of my favorite albums. From left to right, KOD by J Cole, Blue Neighborhood by Troye Sivan, and Coloring Book by Chance The Rapper. This piece, since it is a recreation of already existing art, helped to develop technical skills and help understand varying art styles. This piece has a large element of color and tones, as I made sure to choose covers with similar hues, and line with the division of the covers.”

Shattered Self Image (Series)

Glass collage, acrylic paint [64 x 74 cm]

“This piece is a set of mirrors, one broken and one left whole to represent two narratives told by society. The broken one represents just that: those who don’t fit society’s mold of what a body is supposed to look like are broken and unvalued. The other mirror is unbroken, including positive reinforcement messages about body types in society.”