diff --git a/WrightTools/artists/_helpers.py b/WrightTools/artists/_helpers.py
index ceeabdac..be496efe 100644
--- a/WrightTools/artists/_helpers.py
+++ b/WrightTools/artists/_helpers.py
@@ -53,6 +53,35 @@
 # --- functions -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
+def axis_label_from_data(
+    data, ax=None, cax=None, which="both", channel_index=0
+):
+    """Apply x and/or y labels to axes.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    data : WrightTools.Data
+        data from which to extract the label(s)
+    ax : Axis object (optional)
+        Default is current axis
+    autolabel : {'none', 'both', 'x', 'y'} (optional)
+        Label(s) to apply from data. Default is none.
+    channel_index : integer (optional)
+        Channel index. Default is 0.  Only important for 2D data
+    """
+    if ax is None:
+        ax = plt.gca()
+    if which in ["both", "x"]:
+        xlabel = data.axes[0].label
+        ax.set_xlabel(xlabel)
+    if which in ["both", "y"]:
+        if data.ndim == 1:
+            ylabel = data.channels[channel_index].label
+        elif data.ndim == 2:
+            ylabel = data.axes[1].label
+        ax.set_ylabel(ylabel)
+
+
 def _title(fig, title, subtitle="", *, margin=1, fontsize=20, subfontsize=18):
     """Add a title to a figure.