✺
About & CV
✺ About & CV
✺
About & CV
✺ About & CV
© Photo by Filip Gielda
My name is Laila Mote and I’m an artist and architect born and raised in the Faroe Islands with roots from Kenya.
I hold a master’s degree in architecture from The Royal Academy in Copenhagen (2022) and since graduating, I’ve been working within the fields of visual arts, graphic and architectural design with clients in The Faroe Islands, Greenland, Sweden, Iceland and Denmark.
My visual art offers an insight into the experiences of growing up in a predominantly white society as a woman of colour in a Faroese context, discussing the issues of alienation and belonging in the country where I was born and raised. This is why I often visualize creatures. They're something I started drawing at a young age. This has been a way for me to express and cope with the complex emotions emerging from growing up as a minority in a small society like the Faroe Islands. I kinda' wandered around feeling like an alien creature kid waiting for my spaceship. My art was my spaceship and the creatures portrayed me.
As I love experimenting with different kinds of medias, the creatures never look the same, they keep evolving and transforming.
Noticing similarities in my different professions, I weave these shared values and concerns into all aspects of my work. My goal is to challenge the dominant narrative and create a space where marginalized voices can be heard.
Education
Master of Architecture, Cand.Arch.
Royal Danish Academy, Architecture
Institute of Spatial Design
2020 - 2022
Bachelor of Architecture, BArch
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture
Institute of Architecture & Design
2017 - 2020
Selected Exhibitions & Performances
(Upcoming) Ólavsøkuframsýningin
Listaskálin, Tórshavn
Group-exhibition
2024
HOTspot - Rigsfællesskabet
Nørrebro Bibliotek, Copenhagen
Hybrid Theatre Exhibition
—> teatergrad.dk
2024 - 2025
Tonik
Silo, Tórshavn
Group-exhibition
—> tonik.fo
2024
Retail Store: Sales-Showcase
Niels Finsensgøta 11, Tórshavn
Solo-exhibition
2023
Exoplanet
Gallarí Williamsstova, Tórshavn
Duo-exhibition w. Mia H. Smith
2023
Heysahorn
G! Festival, Syðrugøta
Group-performance
2023
Tonik
Silo, Tórshavn
Group exhibition
—> tonik.fo
2023
Mítt sanna andlit/Unmasked
Kvinnudagur/Womens Day in Mentanarhúsið (Frú Formaður), Fuglafjørður
Solo-exhibition
2023
No Title
Sýsluskrivstovan, Vestmanna
Duo-exhibition w. Gyðja Hjalmarsdóttir
2022
Likam & landslag
Gallarí Williamsstova, Tórshavn
Duo-exhibition w. Silja Gotved
2022
Master Thesis Project Exhibition
Det Kongelige Akademi, København
Group-exhibition
2022
Normar
Sirkus Føroyar, Tórshavn
Duo-exhibition w. Mia H. Smith
2017
Talks & Lectures
Talgildur kreativitetur/Digital Creativity
Perlan, Tórshavn
Posta, NFT stamps release event
2023
Creating Creatures
Norðurlandahúsið/Nordic House, Tórshavn
Confronting Coloniality Seminar
2023
Press
(Upcoming) Abhivyakti, Magazine Article
Title and material TBA
To be released in 2024
(Upcoming) Periskop, Magazine Article
Title and material TBA
To be released in 2024
Samværi, Radio-Program About Art
”At byggja navn upp”
Listen >>> here
2024
Sosialurin - Front Page Interview
Magazine interview, “Listin skal skapa samrøður um rasismu”
Read >>> here
2023
KVF, Live Broadcasted Exhibition
”Frú Formaður”, Womens Day Event
Watch it >>> here
2023
KVF, Vikuskiftissendingin - Radio Interview
Radio interview about my visual art and new webshop
Listen >>> here. For english translation >>> here
2022
KVF, Summarmorgun - Radio Interview
Radio interview about the exhibition “Normar” with artist Mia H Smith
Listen >>> here
2017
Other Work Experience
Studio MOTE —> see selected work and clients here
Visual artist, graphic designer & architect
Owner
2022 -
Afro Urban Store, Malmø
Spatial Designer
2023
KHR Architecture, Copenhagen
Architectural intern
2020
Freelance
Architectural designer
2019
TUTL records, Tórshavn
Event manager & customer service
2011-2017
Dramaverkstaðið, Tórshavn
Drama teacher
2011-2013
IT
AutoCAD
Rhinoceros 3D
SketchUp
Adobe Indesign
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Media Encoder
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Dimension
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Acrobat
Languages
Faroese, native
Danish, fluent
English, fluent
Swedish, intermediate
Norwegian, intermediate
Skills
Lasercutting
Woodwork
Analog drawing & Technical Drawing
Graphic Design & Layout
Modelwork in Cardboard, Plaster & Concrete
Large-Format Printing
Fine Art Printing
Digital & Analog Illustartions
Animation
CNC milling
NFT minting