Leila Lallali, born in Luxembourg, is a self-taught artist currently based in Berlin, Germany.
She has been painting since childhood, though a period of study in fashion design in London and a subsequent career in acting in New York City caused her to momentarily step away from her practice. Following many years in theatre and film, she has returned to her first love: painting.
Lallali’s work centers on everyday objects and themes — particularly food, fashion, and broader notions of consumption. Her paintings are frequently infused with humor and subtle irony. By painting her objects of desire rather than acquiring them, she seeks to transform personal longing into artistic inquiry, tempering the urge to consume and instead inviting reflection on material culture and the nature of want.
Her compositions move fluidly between figuration and abstraction, privileging intuition over strict representation — much like the imaginative world of childhood, where nothing needs to make perfect sense.
Leila’s work is characterized by vivid colours and often incorporates the written word, blending text and image to deepen the emotional and humorous resonance of each piece.
Through her practice, she seeks to create a counterpoint to the often somber realities of contemporary life, offering instead moments of levity, celebration, and reflection. Ideally, her paintings incite amusement, provoke a smirk, and spark a moment of playful reflection.