Layla Stanley is an Australian artist living and practicing on Gadigal Land in Sydney’s Inner West. From a young age she has had both a passion for art and animals. At the age of five she drew her first horse in crayon and hasn’t stopped since.
During her secondary education Layla developed an interest in design and architecture. After completing a Masters of Architecture degree at Sydney University, Layla spent several years working in private architectural practice before undergoing a career transition to pursue her passion for art and drawing at the end of 2022.
Throughout the completion of her Master thesis, Layla was able to hone her drawing skills, through an acute study of the work of architect Marion Mahony Griffin which has led to an intensified interest in the local environment and the influence of Australia’s native plant and animal life on it’s identity. This dedication is embodied through her speculative project ‘Native Networks’, which was announced the joint winner of the 2022 Architecture Australia Unbuilt Awards.
Her love of all animals sees her branching out in subject matter, using predominantly pastel to capture their spirit and character through intimate compositions that reveal curious, playful and inquisitive personalities. For the this and that, us and them exhibition Layla’s highly detailed studies celebrate the uniqueness of Australian native bird life.