I create to make the invisible undeniable… Emotion, energy, & truth held in a single frame. I don’t force it, I notice it.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Im drawn to cinematic, dreamlike photography. Where light bends, reality softens, & emotion sits quietly in the frame. I love capturing moments that feel real but slightly unreal, like something you don’t fully understand but can feel.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in stillness… Just observing, feeling, noticing. Light, energy, quiet moments, & emotion without words. I’m drawn to nostalgia, 1980’s music, & the idea that reality isn’t fixed. It can softened, bent, and reimagined all at once. Like a memory playing back slightly differently each time you return to it.
What would you do with $25,000?I would fund a series of intentional visual projects. Creating immersive, cinematic worlds through photography while also investing in my growth, tools, and a platform to share my work globally. My goal is to build something lasting for my community and most importantly my family. Work that exists beyond the moment & continues to speak over time.
Vote for Layla J. Rivera to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Register now for your opportunity to appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display your artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.