"In 'Stranded,' two children have been waylaid. One child fixes a blown tire while the other, whose legs are covered in tiny bandages, sits on the ground next to a wrench. Their faces really show they're not having it, yet the surrounding pastel-colored fantasy with big flowers and a dapper koala bear suggests that they haven't lost their imagination."
"That was probably the show where I felt like I knew what I wanted to do, what I wanted to convey. I wanted it to have a feeling of victory, a feeling of resilience, feelings of never giving up."
"Mahaffey's calling card is her ability to seamlessly merge the detailed realism of portraiture with elements influenced by—and often directly referencing—animation and comics art. It's a careful balancing act of illustration and painting techniques at which she excels."
In 2019, Kayla Mahaffey's solo show, Off to the Races, showcased paintings of children in various emotional states while engaging with their surroundings. One notable piece, Stranded, depicts two children facing challenges yet surrounded by a magical world. Mahaffey aims to convey feelings of victory and resilience through her work. Her unique style merges detailed portraiture with animation and comic influences, establishing her as a sought-after artist. She was preparing for another solo show at Thinkspace in 2021, continuing her artistic journey.
Read at Hi-Fructose Magazine - The New Contemporary Art Magazine
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