Kayla Carlile

Born and raised in Springfield, Oregon, Kayla Carlile is an American oil painter whose artistic practice spans hyperrealism and contemporary abstraction. Her earliest memories of art trace back to afternoons spent drawing with her grandmother at the kitchen table.

After becoming a mother at sixteen, Carlile graduated with honors and received a scholarship from the Ford Family Foundation to attend the University of Oregon, where she graduated in 2019. She was later invited to speak at a Ford Scholars reception, sharing her story of resilience and artistic ambition with fellow scholarship recipients.

Carlile began her professional career exhibiting artwork at local markets before establishing a painting studio where she taught art classes. As her audience grew to more than one million followers across social media platforms, her artistic practice evolved into a full-time career.

Her work extends beyond the canvas into large-scale murals throughout the United States and Mexico, including commissioned installations for restaurants owned by former Oregon Ducks running back LaMichael James. She is also a published children's book author, with titles including *When Hippos Fly*. Her artwork and personal story have been featured by nati...

Bachelor of Art in Spanish, University of Oregon

Butler Institute of American Art - Midyear Exhibition (Merit Award 2026)

National Art League

New York
95th Annual Juried Open Exhibition - (2026)