Leyla Torres was born and raised in Bogotá Colombia and since an early age has been interested in the visual arts. She graduated from Universidad de la Sabana in Bogotá with a fine arts and teaching degree in 1981.
After completing her studies, Leyla taught art in the Colombian public school system for three years. At the same time she worked with a puppet theater group designing and creating puppets and sets, and collaborated on the writing of scripts.
In 1985 Leyla moved to New York City where she studied printmaking and lithography at the Art Students League. She also spent many hours researching children’s literature at the Central Children’s Room of the Donnell Library on 53rd Street, just opposite the Museum of Modern Art.
Besides writing and painting, Leyla enjoys visiting schools, sharing with children her knowledge and perspective on the creative process while demonstrating how they too can tap their creative potential. As a practitioner and advocate of origami for more than twenty years, Leyla also enjoys sharing and teaching about this art of paper folding.
Leyla currently lives in Vermont with her husband, John Sutton.
