Leyla Cui

All

Children

Conceptual

Fantasy

Nature

People

Surreal portrait with large bird and teardrops by Leyla Cui

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Environment protection illustration by Leyla Cui showing tree growing inside human heads

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Illustration of woman in red dress looking into an envelope with ocean waves by Leyla Cui

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Circle of nature elements including insects, mushrooms, and crystals by Leyla Cui

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Imaginative creatures in whimsical outfits and a line of small animals walking

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Surreal shells with human faces and floral elements by Leyla Cui

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Between New York and Shanghai, Leyla gathers quiet visual impulses.

Leyla connects symbolism, natural references and color into surreal visual narratives.

Based between New York and Shanghai, Leyla has studied at Studio Art at New York University and the School of Visual Arts. Her work still often begins with words along with observation and sketching as she develops a visual narrative infused with symbolism, using colour to evoke feelings and composition to guide the viewer into the meaning of the image. Clients love her conceptual thinking, attention to detail and originality of thought. Across fashion, beauty, editorial and publishing, brands that appreciate true art are drawn to her. Leyla herself is inspired by psychology, philosophy, natural history and our connection with the environment. She enjoys Art Nouveau and Surrealist artworks, mythology, film and literature – wherever images blur the line between reality and the imagination.

Approach

With an approach that combines traditional and digital media, Leyla works in coloured pencil, watercolour and acrylic along with Procreate and Photoshop. “Many of my illustrations begin as hand-drawn sketches, helping me retain an organic quality even when working digitally,” she says.

Key software

Procreate and Adobe Photoshop.

Style

Curious and contemplative, Leyla’s work has a surreal, dreamlike quality, taking influences from the natural world and her own imagination. She explores themes of connection, transformation, memory, identity and coexistence