Artist Statement/ Biography

Klinger’s work interweaves installation work with textiles and physical computing. The focus of her practice is redefining the boundaries of the body, space and garments as queer abstraction. Combining traditional fiber techniques with light and interaction, she explores how the space affects the body and how the body affects the space. By employing a feminized craft, bobbin lace, Klinger examines how centuries old lace patterns can be used to create immersive environments. Meshing together electricity and lace, she creates lace environments and sculptures using electroluminescent wire - a light emitting bendable material. Through the use of sensors, Klinger codes and codifies her works into living light emitting lace bodies, in dialogue with our own bodies of flesh.

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Layla Klinger (b. 1993) earned an MFA in Textiles from Parsons School of Design in 2021, where she is currently an adjunct faculty member. Her works have been presented globally, including at Mana Contemporary, Urban Zen Foundation, the Fiberart International Biennale, and a solo show at Rosenfeld Gallery (2020). She created site specific installations for the Little Island Festival (Greece), the New York Public Library, FRATZ Festival (Berlin) and Nightlight Festival (Tel Aviv). Klinger is the recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation excellence scholarship (2017), Parsons School of Art and Design Provost scholarships (2019) and The New School University scholarship (2019).