About copy — Leyla Cui

LEYLA CUI

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Leyla Cui (2002) is an award-winning illustrator, artist, and writer based in New York City. Currently studying illustration at the School of Visual Arts, she has quickly established herself in the city's art scene with her evocative work, which explores the intricate relationships between human memories, identities, and femininity in contemporary society through a surrealist lens. At the young age of 17, she began her artistic career by publishing a poetry collection, I Was Meant to Meet You While Wandering, with Beijing Arts and Crafts Publishing House, China, featuring nearly 200 poems alongside her original oil paintings and illustrations.
Her notable exhibitions include Holding Hands at Space Gallery, Shanghai (2019); Metamorphosis (Solo Exhibition) with Hongtang Culture Communication, Shanghai (2021); Resonance at Barney Gallery, New York University (2023); A Happy Beginning at LATITUDE Gallery, NYC (2023); Genesis: A New Generation of Chinese Artists at Chambers Fine Art Gallery, NY (2023); The Imaginary Made Real at Berry Campbell Gallery, Chelsea, NYC (2024); her solo exhibition Between Dreamscapes at Temple Gallery (2024); Desire-Body Without Organs at Space Gallery (2024); and Beyond Boundaries at Artsinsquare (2024).
Leyla's achievements also include the New Talent Merit Award at the 2023 Junale Global Illustration Competition, publication in Suboart Magazine (2024) and Artsinsquare Magazine (2024), and her selection as one of 15 artists for the NYC Subway Public Art Initiative, Visionary Projects (December 2024), where her artwork will be displayed across subway station dioramas citywide. Additionally, her work has been featured in Divide Magazine, Issue 12.

^{Education:

2022-2023

Studio Art (BFA) at New York University

2023-2026

illustration (BA) at the School of the Visual Arts, expected to graduate in 2026

Awards and Publications:

2025

Creative Quarterly 80

Runner up

BIBF International Illustration Award

Longlisted Winner

Divide Magazine
Selected artist “Beyond the Storm”

2024

Booooooom Illustration Awards

Selected as one of the 200 finalist winners among over 7,000
participants

iJungle Global Illustration Competition
Self-Promotion Merit Award}

Art To Heart Project
Chosen winner for 101 Art Book: Portrait Edition

NYC Subway Public Art Initiative, Visionary Projects
Selected as one of 15 artists from hundreds to display artwork across NYC subway station dioramas

Divide Magazine
Selected artist with an interview on the creative process

ArtsinSquare Magazine
Chosen winner for Issue 7 publication among global artists

Suboart Magazine
Chosen winner from 400 global artists, November Issue

2023

iJungle Global Illustration Competition
New Talent Merit Award

2020

Individual Poetry Collection, I Am Meant to Meet You While Wandering
Published by Beijing Arts and Crafts Publishing House, China

Exhibitions:

2025
January-Feburary, Switchboard, SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York City

2024
December, Desire-Body Without Organs, A Space Gallery, New York City

November-December, Betweemn Dreamscapes, Temple Gallery, New York City

November-December, Beyond Boudaries, Artsinsquare, Virtual Exhibition

June-August, The Imaginary Made Real, Berry Campbel l Gallery, Chelsea, New York City

2023
July-August, A Happy Beginning, LATITUDE Gallery, New York City

July-Aug, Genesis: A New Generation of Chinese Artists, Chambers Fine Art Gallery, Salt Point, NY

February, Resonance, Barney Gallery with New York University, New York

2021
May-June, Metamorphosis, HongTang Culture Communication Gallery, Shanghai, China

2019
September-October, Holding hands, The Space Gallery, Shanghai, China

Published Individual Poetry Collection, 2020

Translated Selections, Postcard Edition

@leyla_c_art

chinamileyla@gmail.com