My Story

I’m Kyla, an artist working with graphite, thread, and paper. Originally from San Francisco, I moved to Belfast in 2024 to pursue my studies in the arts at Queen’s University Belfast. During my time in Northern Ireland, I fell in love with the country’s architecture, history, and cultural landscapes — and with someone from Armagh, a connection that eventually led me to make the city my home. 

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My work begins with carefully observed graphite drawings before being completed with hand embroidery, bringing together the precision of drawing with the tactile qualities of textiles. Through detailed line, shadow, and stitch, I explore the relationship between place, memory, and belonging.

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I’m particularly interested in Ireland’s historic buildings, streetscapes, and the ways our surroundings preserve traces of the people and communities that shaped them. Having experienced the process of finding a home in a new country, my work reflects on ideas of identity, heritage, and the emotional connections we form with places.

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I hold a BA in History of Art and Visual Culture and an MA in Arts Management from Queen’s University Belfast, where my studies deepened my interest in cultural heritage and the role of art in preserving and shaping collective memory.