Alison Layton is a contemporary sculptor whose practice explores the intersection of botany, time, and commemoration. Formally trained in fine art and metalsmithing, Alison graduated with Honors from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2006. Upon moving to New York in 2010, Alison found a profound creative wellspring within the city’s historic Flower Market while working under famed artist/sculptor Emily Thompson for more than a decade. Immersed in its ever changing ecosystem of offerings, she developed an intimate vocabulary of seasonal transitions and botanical knowledge while still seeking inspiration in the wild at every chance she got.  Her world of floral design has brought her to many landscapes of inspiration including Hawaii, Spain, the English countryside and in search of Joshua trees.  

This dual immersion in floral design and metalsmithing sparked an evolution in her studio practice. What began as an impulse to arrest the ephemerality of cut flowers has transformed into a rigorous, archival commemoration of rare, endangered and simply her favorite botanical specimens.   In addition to the floral sculptures, her practice has evolved to include additional types of objects to interact with the flora  include unconventional vases and flower frogs as well as candlestick holders, mirrors and lighting.  

Alison’s distinct sculptural voice has been featured in The New York Times and is held in numerous private collections.