Through bold colour, layered textures and figurative painting, Laya Rasooli explores the emotions beneath the surface. Meet Art in the Park’s selected King’s Trust artist for 2026.

What does it feel like to enter a new chapter without knowing whether you’re making the right choices? How do you learn to trust yourself when choosing your own path might mean disappointing others?

These questions sit at the heart of The Weight of Becoming, one of the paintings Laya Rasooli is particularly excited to share at Art in the Park this November.

Born in Afghanistan and based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Laya creates abstract, textured figurative works. Her paintings draw on lived experience while exploring emotions that reach beyond her own story, from vulnerability and uncertainty to connection, personal growth and the complexities of our inner worlds.

As Art in the Park’s selected King’s Trust artist for 2026, she will bring that evolving practice to Eden Park.

A practice that continues to grow

Painting began as a private space for Laya to express identity and emotion. Through colour, symbolism and portraiture, she explored belonging, resilience and the experience of rebuilding a sense of home.

Over time, she developed her technique, her visual language and the confidence to share her paintings publicly. As her practice has grown, so too have the ideas she wants to explore.

“My experiences have shaped the way I see the world, but I don’t want my art to be limited to my own story. I’m interested in the emotions and experiences that connect us as people, the things we struggle to express, the uncertainty we carry, and the ways we continue to grow and become.”

Her approach brings abstract surfaces together with figurative elements, using bold colour, texture and symbolism to translate emotion into something viewers can feel as well as see.

“I build my paintings in layers, moving between abstract,textured surfaces and figurative elements, so each work holds depth, like arecord of experience over time.”

The Weight of Becoming

In The Weight of Becoming, Laya explores the emotional weight of entering a new stage of life. The painting considers the fear and uncertainty of difficult decisions, particularly when choosing yourself may mean disappointing someone else.

It reflects the space between who we have been and who we are becoming, when certainty is out of reach and we are learning to trust ourselves along the way.

For visitors encountering the work at Art in the Park, Laya encouragesa closer look.

“I’d encourage visitors to look beyond the figure,colours and textures and consider the emotions beneath the surface. There’s something quite universal about the experience of becoming, and I’m interested in how people might recognise parts of their own stories within the painting.”

That exchange between artist and viewer has become one ofthe most meaningful parts of her practice. Hearing people recognise their own experiences in her work has shown her how a painting can begin with something personal and open into a shared connection.

The experiences behind the work

Laya left Afghanistan with her family when she was 12 and spent five years as a refugee in Indonesia before coming to New Zealand. Growing up between countries meant changing homes, friendships, languages and education systems, while retaining connections to the places and people she had known.

Those experiences shaped her perspective and informed her early explorations of identity, displacement and belonging.

Her relationship with art also carries the encouragement of her father, who recognised her interest in drawing when she was young and sent her to art courses. She lost him when she was 12, but his belief in her has stayed with her.

One early painting made after arriving in New Zealand depicted an “ocean lady” with burgundy tears. Looking at the figure, Laya felt the tears conveyed hurt, when what she wanted to express was that the woman was precious.

She changed the tears to gold.

The painting marked a step towards expressing emotions shehad found difficult to discuss, even with her family. Today, that willingness to explore complex feelings remains part of her work, alongside an interest in the many ways people experience change, connection and growth.

Looking ahead to Art in the Park

Alongside painting, Laya is studying towards a Master’s in Architecture at AUT, owns event decoration business Decoration X, and mentors and coaches new migrants. She has also been recognised as a YWCA Y25 Young Leader.

At Art in the Park, she looks forward to hearing how people respond to her paintings in person: what draws them in, what questions they ask and which ideas resonate.

She also hopes to build relationships with collectors, curators and the wider arts community, opening opportunities for future exhibitions, commissions and collaborations.

“Now I paint to connect, to tell stories, and to build a serious career as a professional artist.”

Supporting the next generation of artists

The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand helps young people develop their skills and pursue their ambitions. Its Art & Enterprise Programme offers skills, mentoring and exhibition opportunities, with one young artist selected each year to showcase their work at Art in the Park.

As the selected King’s Trust artist for 2026, Laya will share her paintings with a wider audience and build connections as she develops her career as a professional artist.

Meet Laya and discover her work alongside more than 140 artists at Art in the Park, Eden Park, 12–15 November 2026.

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