Level Up 2019

Kayla Mahaffey’s ‘Level Up’ is made with acrylics on canvas, using a combination of techniques that speak to our contemporary moment. Mahaffey’s paintings often merge portraiture with elements of cartooning and video games, and this is definitely the case here. The anonymous figure looks straight at us, asserting her presence. The cat-eared helmet and glove suggest a sense of readiness, even armor, while the background teems with the language of the screen. She renders all of this with fluid brushwork. Acrylic lends itself well to this approach. It has become the default choice of painters who want a crisp, graphic quality. As a material, it's a child of the twentieth century, and can be seen as a somewhat industrial alternative to oil paints. Ultimately, Mahaffey’s careful crafting suggests a reality that is constantly being updated, enhanced, and, yes, levelled-up.