Strange Fruit 2021

Kayla Mahaffey made this painting, Strange Fruit, with what looks like acrylics, layering colors to give it that vibrant pop. The painting process is all about building up these layers, a conversation between what’s already there and what’s next. Look at the way Mahaffey renders the light; it almost feels like sunshine is made of paint. The texture is smooth but the colors are riotously rich. Those deep reds and greens pull you in, and then you notice the strange fruit, each with its own expression. There's a real sense of depth in the way the leaves overlap and the girl's gaze draws you in. The composition creates a kind of circular flow. Mahaffey's work reminds me a bit of Kerry James Marshall, in that both artists use the figure to explore questions of identity and representation with a playful touch. Art, like life, is about embracing the weird, the wonderful, and the beautifully ambiguous.