This and That exhibition showcasing incredible talent launches at the Milk Factory

Emerging Sydney artist Layla Stanley has chosen the Milk Factory gallery in Bowral to display her debut exhibition ‘This and That’ launching this weekend.

Ms Stanley created a series of lifelike drawings inspired by Australia’s iconic native birds in a new intimate exhibition, alongside local artists Timm O’Regan, Linda Chant and Tony Dagg to showcase drawings, sculptures, paintings and ceramics.

A former architecture graduate, Ms Stanley turned her side-hustle into a thriving business after becoming inundated with commissions during the pandemic lock-downs.

Ms Stanley said her pastel drawings for this collection are inspired by the emotion and personality of birds she has met in aviaries and in the wild.

“I like to get up close and personal with my subjects, waiting until the birds are relaxed enough to approach me so that I can take in every detail, particularly their feathers and colours,” Ms Stanley said.

The 28-year-old then takes photos and begins to bring them to life on the canvas, painstakingly drawing for up to 12 hours per day with each portrait taking around two weeks to complete.

Her works of art feature up-close views of species including cockatoo, lorikeet, hawk and parrot are as striking as they are beautiful.
“I’ve been fascinated by animals and the way they find ways to communicate with you for as long as I can remember,” says Ms Stanley.

The artist is a regular visitor to Bowral to visit family, and loves the escape from the City the highlands provides.

Her aim for this collection is to bring a little bit of joy or relief to people after a tough few years.

This and That, Us and Them, new works by Layla Stanley, Linda Chant, Tony Dagg and Timm O’Regan is showing at Milk Factory, Pop Up Gallery 1 Southern Highlands until 14 September.