Kid In Play 2021

Kayla Mahaffey made "Kid In Play" sometime in the 20th century using paint and graphic elements. She’s juggling it all–the beautiful, the anxiety-inducing, the chaotic. It feels like life, right? The palette is bright, like childhood–that yellow backdrop! But look closer. See how those saturated colors are layered with detail? Those aren't just flat cartoon explosions. They've got depth, texture, and that boom is practically jumping off the canvas. And the way she renders the figure, a real kid – not some idealized version. They are like a solid center amidst the swirling energy. It all reminds me of Peter Saul’s intentionally bad cartoon-like paintings combined with Elizabeth Murray's playful forms to build something very special. Mahaffey’s work feels like a conversation with art history, but with a voice that’s all her own. It is about embracing the beautiful mess of it all.