Malaya Bengel was born into a life led by creative practice. Her first
discipline started with ballet at 3 years old when her parents noticed her
doing nothing but dancing all day. Bengel finds herself still dancing every
day as an adult. Drawing and painting became a companion when at 13
years old, she decided to start drawing every day. These interests slowly
evolved into figure drawing, technical studies, and eventually illustrative
work. At 16 years old Bengel started working in children’s educational
curriculum as an illustrator and continues to do so today. After graduating
high school she attended local community college, Coastal Alabama
Community College, after being awarded their sole full ride art scholarship.
Her last summer in Alabama and last month as a teenager, Bengel hosted
her first solo exhibition with The Mobile Arts Council, ‘A Creative Coming of
Age Show.’ This exhibition focused on her progress as a mostly self taught
artist and how these artistic practices have been shaped and have held
influence throughout her adolescence. The exhibition, hosting over 100
artworks, closed after a month with the second highest sales of the year for
the gallery. Shortly after this show, Bengel left Alabama for New York City
where she attends The New School now and was awarded a partial merit
scholarship. Bengel is earning a BFA at Parsons as well as a BA in visual
studies at Eugene Lang. She is continually experimenting with new
practices, ways of thinking, and modes of expression. Bengel looks forward
to the future and where her and her art will go next.