Championing street art for National Women's Day
Layla Cope is a local mural artist from Newbury and part of an all-female street/graffiti art collective based in London – WOM Collective.
“We started as four and have grown to over 50 members. We try to provide a safe,welcoming platform for girls to come and paint with us,” says Layla.
“We run free spray painting workshops and have been creating murals around London for the last three years.”
The collective have regularly made international news, including CBS and Euro News.
“I mentor a lot of the younger artists with advice on starting out as an artist,” says Layla.
“We generally all help each other in a positive way. I’m really proud to be apart of this group.”
Layla has just taken part in a big mural project in London to celebrate 2023 International Women’s Day.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, WOM Collective, a platform dedicated to nurturing and championing female street artists, presents WOM INSPIRED 23: Mural Art Exhibition.
Tomorrow (Saturday, March 11) and next Saturday, March 18 (11am till 4pm), WOM INSPIRED23 open the doors to Penge Rooftop Gallery.
The ‘urban art experience’ features more than 40 new murals by more than 40 female artists, transforming the unused car park with a spectacular combination of different styles, each one celebrating something that inspires them.
As well as her forthcoming sessions for young carers at Greenham, Layla also just started setting up a workshop and mural project with elderly residents at an Oxford residential home.
“I was really touched that the residents wanted to have a go with the spray paint and I’ve managed to source some special adapters to fit on the spray cans to help them use them,” she said.
The urban gallery is curated by WOM founders Lours & Elno, with the support of London Calling Blog and Street Art Atlas. As well as Layla’s work, the show will feature murals by Mishfit, Roo, Tamoonz, HazardOne, Curiouser, Nush, Lours, Vane MG, Pixie, Neonita, Elno, Mowcka, Frankie Strand, Lespleen, Zippy, Jane Mutiny, 7th Pencil, Vanjimmer, Shauna, Madam, Apparan, Caryn Koh, Elena Howard, Giusi Tomasello, Jeru Kinnaird, Karc, Lorenza, Mar, Oneslutriot, SoulD_Art, Sugar, Tash, Secle, Vero the neighbour, ywouldudothat, Jola, Cee , Susi Foxy, Charyl and more.
WOM INSPIRED 23: Mural Art Exhibition tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wom-inspired-23-mural-art-exhibition-tickets-563656490737
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9-8V1SyCg4&authuser=0
TRISH LEE
