Shayla Florence

I came to art through musical theatre, but have found myself continually drawn to new forms of storytelling and creation. I consider myself an actor first, driven by empathy, curiosity, and an innate desire to understand the experiences of others. For me, art is both a means of self-discovery and a way of making sense of the world around me. It requires us to look inward, to examine our own breath, thoughts, emotions, and patterns, while simultaneously asking us to step outside of ourselves and inhabit the experiences of another.

I am deeply motivated by my connection to the natural world, to other humans, and to the universal energy and consciousness that connects us all. I believe that we are not separate from the world around us, but are part of a much larger, interconnected experience of life. This understanding informs the stories I am drawn to tell and the art I hope to create. I am interested in work that invites us to look beyond ourselves, to recognize our shared humanity, and to reconsider our relationship with one another and the planet we call home.

I believe art has the ability to deepen our understanding of what it means to be human. When we are invited into someone else’s experience, we are given the opportunity to recognize parts of ourselves within them, to challenge what we believe, and to develop a greater capacity for empathy. I want to create work that makes people feel, question, and explore; work that reminds us of our own power, our connection to one another, and our responsibility to the world we inhabit. I hope that through storytelling, we can better understand ourselves and each other, and that this understanding might inspire us to live more consciously, compassionately, and courageously.

I am continually discovering new ways to create, communicate, and connect through art. I don’t believe I have to know exactly what kind of artist I am becoming to know why I create. I create because I am curious about life, because I want to understand it more deeply, and because I believe that the more deeply we understand the human experience, the more capable we become of changing it.

— Shayla