LAYO BRIGHT

(b. Lagos, Nigeria) is a sculptor who explores migration, legacy and identity through hybrid portraits, textiles, and mixed media works. 

Bright’s recent exhibitions include A Two Way Mirror: Double Consciousness in Contemporary Glass by Black Artists, Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA, USA; Between the Seams, PM/AM Gallery, London, England; The Glass Show, Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton, NY, USA; Rockhaven, Monique Meloche Gallery, IL, USA; Undercurrents, Sean Kelly Gallery, NY, USA; Woman to Woman, Bode Projects, Berlin, Germany; among others.

She has participated in notable art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong 2023, EXPO Chicago 2023, Art Basel Miami Beach 2022, Future Fair 2021 and Prizm Art Fair 2020.

Bright received her MFA (Hons.) from the Parsons School of Design (2018) and is the recipient of honors and awards including the Ron Desmett Award (2023), UrbanGlass Visiting Artist Fellowship(2023), NXTHVN Fellowship (2021), the International Sculpture Center’s 2018 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award (2018); and the Beyoncé Formation Finalist Scholarship (2017).

She is the 2023 Ron Desmett Award recipient from the Pittsburgh Glass Center and has participated in several artist residencies including the Laurie Wagman Visiting Artist & AIR at Tyler School of Art, NXTHVN Fellowship in New Haven, CT; Triangle, Brooklyn, NY; Flux Factory, Queens, NY; The Studios at Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA; Tri-tryagain Studio Residency, Brooklyn, NY; International Studio Center Sculpture Residency at Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Township, NJ.

Currently, she is participating in the Visiting Artist and Designer Fellowship at UrbanGlass in Brooklyn, NY. In Fall 2023, Bright will partake in the Visiting Artist Residency at The Museum of Glass, Tacoma WA, USA.