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3
View In My Room
Painting, Acrylic on Paper
Size: 16.5 W x 11.8 H x 0.1 D in
Ships in a Tube
106 Views
3
Artist featured in a collection
Painted Cat II 30cm x 42cm Mixed Media Painting on Paper Kirsty McKenzie’s series ’The Cat Ladies’ looks at the union between the Divine Feminine and the Divine Feline. She explores lesbian themes with relationships versus solidarity; paralleled with the solitary nature of cats. The women and cats bleed and morph into one another, as a result of the partial blind contour drawings. These ‘deformed pin-up girls’ are both sensual and awkward, questioning society’s preconceived notions of beauty. The sensuous nature of the figures defies the archetypal image of a Cat Lady; which usually does not call sensuality to mind. Their awkwardness depicts sexual confusion, and their separate togetherness suggests a disabled intimacy. With these drawings, she uses the technique of blind and partially blind contour drawings, as she is extremely interested in the balance and tension between improvisation and control. Kirsty McKenzie prolifically creates paintings, drawings, mixed media collages, costumes, interiors, performance, sound, and video installations; as well as her own Universe in which she dwells. Her work depicts portraits of colourful characters with queer and feminist themes, defying sexual and gender stereotypes. She explores the objectification of women, and the feminine identity; interwoven with prominent themes of obsession and addiction. She infuses these topics with humour and a child-like exuberance with simplification and distortion of forms, and a brazen use of colour.
2017
Acrylic on Paper
One-of-a-kind Artwork
16.5 W x 11.8 H x 0.1 D in
Not Framed
Not applicable
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Kirsty McKenzie (B. 1982 Toronto, Canada) is an interdisciplinary artist, and costume designer. She graduated with a BFA in Fashion from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2005. She prolifically creates paintings, drawings, mixed media collages, costumes, interiors, performance, sound, and video installations (such as "Cat Lady" and "Clown Frown", 2015), as well as her own universe in which she dwells. Her work is mostly figurative, and often depicts portraits of colourful characters with prominent queer and feminist themes; who defy sexual and gender stereotypes, and transcend traditional notions of beauty. Her art explores societal attitudes toward women and the oppression and objectification they endure, with strong themes of obsession, mental health, and substance abuse. Kirsty infuses these topics with humour and a child-like exuberance; with simplification and distortion of forms, and a brazen use of colour. In 2013, she faced her substance abuse and addictions that had overshadowed her life for 17 years, began her powerful, transformative journey of recovery. What began as an avid sketchbook practice, soon exploded into a full-blown art addiction. In 2014 she passionately redirected her focus from fashion & costumes to visual art, and rediscovered herself as an artist. Her work is often autobiographical, and her series “Warning Signs” delves into her drug addiction, recovery, and co-occurring bipolar disorder. These works focus on the anxiety, paranoia, frenzied obsession, and mood swings that come with the detrimental relationship of chemical dependency. The surreal sculptures and mixed media collages are dark yet whimsical and witty; some depicting the “third eye”, and how that is often blocked while in addiction. The 6th chakra or “third eye” featured prominently in her work, after experiencing a spiritual awakening in recovery, and becoming more in tune with this concept through her avid Kundalini and meditation practice. Kirsty has shown her work internationally, in numerous group exhibitions in London, UK and Toronto, Canada. Several of her works from “Warning Signs” were in "Chemcraft" (Christina Mitrentse Projects, Espacio Gallery, London, UK 2015), and "Prescriptions" (The Beaney museum, Canterbury, UK 2016). She has appeared on a BBC One interior design show, and been interviewed in i-D, to name a few, and some of her clients include The Guardian, and Teen Vogue.
Artist featured by Saatchi Art in a collection
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