Artist in need

Hi, my name is Emmanuel Layila. I am a mental health survivor. I have been struggling with mental health for quit sometime. I was admitted to Alberta hospital for 6 weeks then later discharged. I am fundraising to get back to doing and enjoying my artistic work and graphic design. The funds will help me rent a place and buy martials for my art work to be able to peruse my artistic journey.

I was born in Juba, South Sudan in 1972. At age of 14 I left Juba during civil war in Sudan, and moved to Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. There I studied Fine Arts and graphic design at the Sudan institute of Fine Art. Additionally, I studied drama and photography. My career has extended to theatre performance, graphic design, teaching, and directing.

The conceptual themes behind and throughout my journey of three body studies is to employ understanding and to deliver the truth. In 1999 I moved to Cairo, Egypt where I began teaching fine art. I have exhibited internationally throughout my artistic career, sharing my South Sudanese heritage around the world. I was represented by the Townhouse Art Gallery in Egypt.

I immigrated to Canada in 2005 to Edmonton, Alberta with my family. On my artistic journey in Edmonton I was the recipient of the Arts and culture Award for Recognizing Immigrant Success & Excellence (RISE) in 2008 from the Edmonton Council and is now represented at the Art Rentals and Sales Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta.