Only Human 2019

"Only Human" (2019), created by Kayla Mahaffey, is a vibrant and surreal artwork that explores the complexities of identity. The painting features a young Black girl with a cartoonish, anthropomorphic helmet that drips down her face. Surrounding her is a chaotic and colourful environment, including a skull, a rainbow, and cartoonish creatures. The contrasting textures and styles create a sense of unease and disorientation, highlighting the tension between human and non-human, real and imagined, and individual and collective identity.