“I WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL THEMSELVES:” AN INTERVIEW WITH LAY SIMONE

by Emma Riva

Lay Simone’s work exudes confidence. When she got in touch with me about doing an interview, I saw a balance of both strength and softness in her paintings that really resonated.

I love her depiction of the female body and the way she creates work that expresses both universal images and her own individual story. The fact that Lay and I connected over Instagram and I had never seen her paintings before also goes to show that in our own community, there are so many artists we don’t know who are making great work. I wanted to get to know her story more, and I hope the conversation below inspires you to get to know her art practice. – ER

Petrichor: What drew you to start painting?

Lay Simone: Art has always been a language for me, a way to express things I could not say out loud. I started painting during a time when I needed to understand myself better. It became therapy, reflection, and release all at once. Over time, painting turned into a spiritual practice, something that helped me connect with emotion, energy, and transformation. Every color and stroke is a form of storytelling for me, a reminder that healing can look like art.

“No two eyes see the world the same way, so every canvas holds a different emotion, experience, and truth.”

In the “Vision” series of paintings you have, how do you approach making each eye unique?

Each eye carries its own soul. When I paint the “Vision” series, I am not just painting an image, I am painting perspective. No two eyes see the world the same way, so every canvas holds a different emotion, experience, and truth. Sometimes I use unexpected color blends to represent inner clarity or confusion, or I shift the shape slightly to reflect individuality. The series reminds me that beauty lives in perception and that we are all seeing life through our own evolving lens.

“It is about showing women their bodies as living art, powerful, emotional, and alive.”

The thermal body paintings you do are really striking. What is the process like for those paintings and how did you start doing them?

The thermal body series came from my love for emotion and energy, how we feel more than we see. I started experimenting with color gradients and warmth to show the intensity of being human. I wanted to paint how it feels to exist in your own skin, not just how it looks. My process begins with photography and sketching, but I layer colors to mimic heat, tension, and flow. Each body tells a story of confidence, vulnerability, and self acceptance. It is about showing women their bodies as living art, powerful, emotional, and alive.

What do you hope people feel when they look at your work?

I want people to feel themselves. To pause and recognize their own emotions in what they are seeing. Whether it is peace, curiosity, discomfort, or inspiration, I just want them to feel something real. My work is not about perfection, it is about connection. I want viewers to see humanity, spirit, and growth. If someone looks at one of my paintings and says, “I feel seen,” then I have done my job.

“Long term, I want my work to stand as proof that being yourself is the masterpiece.”

What are some of your goals as an artist?

My goal is to expand LAYMADEIT into a creative hub that merges art, storytelling, and emotional healing. I want to keep building spaces, physical and digital, where artists can express freely and communities can connect through creativity. I am working toward more exhibitions, collaborations with brands that align with self expression, and eventually a full studio space where art meets wellness. Long term, I want my work to stand as proof that being yourself is the masterpiece.

Lay Simone is a multidisciplinary artist and the founder of LAYMADEIT, a creative brand based in Pittsburgh that merges emotion, storytelling, and identity through visual art and design. Her work explores how energy, color, and human expression connect, often turning raw emotion into vivid visual form. Known for her Vision series and Thermal Body art, Lay transforms everyday perception into intimate reflection. Each piece carries emotional depth, using color and body form to express strength, vulnerability, and transformation. Her art has become a visual language for healing, inviting viewers to feel seen and connected through shared emotion.

What began as a personal journey has evolved into a growing movement of creativity and empowerment. Through LAYMADEIT, Lay continues to create work that celebrates authenticity, body confidence, and the beauty of emotional expression. Her mission is to inspire people to see themselves as living art, evolving, powerful, and unapologetically real. You can view her portfolio and features at TheLaySimone.com, and connect with her on Instagram and Threads (@mammaasss) and Pinterest (LayxSimone).

This month’s articles are produced with support from the Frick Pittsburgh in conjunction with their landmark exhibition The Scandinavian Home: Landscape and Lore. Get cozy as the seasons change with David and Susan Warner’s collection of paintings, tapestries, and sculptures from around the Nordic region. Tickets now on sale.