As an autistic artist, painting is her natural language. Her art communicates through the language of the body—texture, gesture, and sensation—resulting in uninhibited, tactile paintings that feature organic textures and symbolic shapes.
Messner studied at the Lane School of Art in Decatur, GA, and holds an Individualized Master of Arts from Goddard College in Plainfield, VT, where she explored the link between trauma healing and authentic expression, through the lens of somatics and polyvagal theory.
Her recent exhibitions include Her Little Pocket of Happy (2019, virtual solo), Jungian Circumambulation of COVID-19 (2020, public art), Howse Peak Memorial Exhibit (2022, MMM Firmian), Momentum (2023, RISE Emerging Artist), Imagine (2024, Three Sisters Gallery), and Our Home: The Natural World (2025, MetaSpace Gallery).
She is also a speaker and community-builder, raising awareness about high-masking autism and invisible disability.
Instagram: @laylamessner
Website: laylamessner.com
Láyla is our spotlight artist artist at Creative Combat this year and we are so excited to have her participate!
