Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann
laceyandlaylaart.com
“We think the Popsilos project is a wonderful idea because it will bring public art to rural communities that are often left out from monumental art projects. Painting tall silos situated against the beautiful Canadian landscape is a stunning way to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary through art, and also a way of getting primarily urban painters to reconnect with their earthly roots.”
- Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann, artists
Contemporary muralists and portrait painters Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann met studying Fine Art in Edmonton, Alberta at Grant MacEwan University in 2007. Their passion and dedication to artistic practice formed an inseparable friendship, which in 2010 became a professional collaboration in public arts. In 2015 they returned to education at Concordia University to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Montreal, where they graduated with Great Distinction after completing their final semester at the L’École d’Enseignement Supérieur d’Art in Bordeaux, France. Together they have painted over 40 murals all across Canada, most recently the MacEwan LRT Vent outside of the new Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton. Internationally, they have executed murals in Honduras, France, and Uganda where they volunteered with an orphanage and an artistic centre for the reintegration of former child soldiers. They currently operate out of Montreal, Quebec, where their practice is dedicated to both exterior murals, and contemporary studio portraiture.
Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann had the opportunity to collaborate with Camille Georgeson-Usher, an emerging Coast Salish/Dene/Scottish scholar from Galiano Island, BC, on the concept of their mural on the unity of all people. Camille is currently pursuing an MA in Art History at Concordia University with research focusing on Indigenous community based performative practices that bring forward conversations on fear, humour and sexuality as acts of cultural survivance. Both her research and artistic practice works through ideas of urban Indigenous identity that is rooted in melding together street art and hip hop culture, Indigeneity, and community.
Artists Lacey Jane and Layla Folkmann will be painting their mural themed unity of all people at the Michel Dignard and Jeannette Mongeon Farm.
