Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayleigh Efird.
Hi Kayleigh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am a multidisciplinary artist with a dual background in fibers and illustration. I currently work as an illustrator for Astound US Inc., and I just finished illustrating my first young adult novel! I received my BFA in 2020 from the Maryland Institute College of Art, and I’ve since worked in multiple capacities for both the fashion and illustration industries. I also foster a research practice and will be undertaking a postgraduate program at the Warburg Institute in autumn!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a 2020 graduate had its fair share of challenges. I was discouraged to not only have to complete my degree remotely but also reorient my studio practice into a digital space. Despite this, I remained devoted to my work and eventually was able to ground myself in my creative practice again. I learned a lot about my own creative philosophies working through the pandemic. I discovered how I want to make and distribute my work, where I need my work to exist, and how I want it to reach others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My practice examines nostalgia and personal ritual through illustrated/crafted dreamscapes. Baroque painting, travel, and performance often drive my creative narratives. I use my practice as a solution for stillness and regularly feature subjects traveling through illusory spaces and situations. Fashion as personal and communal storytelling is also a critical lens that informs both my scholarly and studio practices. My visual and written work focus on historical and material practices that discuss dress modes through different fantastical contexts.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I would like to elevate the platforms of four amazing creatives that I know and routinely collaborate with. This group of artists are dedicated not only to their own craft but to the communities they live in. I could not be more honored to know and work alongside them.
Eden Manresa: Owner of Eden the Label, a wearables brand that specializes in sustainable accessories and collaboration between makers.
Katherine Shark: A fashion scholar and designer working to create her own aesthetic manifesto and re-evaluate the histories surrounding beauty rituals.
Abigail Bloom & Laura Huie: Owners of Bloom and Huie, a social media marketing and screenwriting duo. Their work focuses on disrupting hegemonic screen narratives and centering intersectional womanhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kalegallery.com
- Instagram: vintage_kale1973
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleigh-efird-studio/
Image Credits
Quinn Marvin
Ais Lopez-Gochez
Moses Jeune
Joe Miller
