Once Forgotten, Now Remembered 2021

Kayla Mahaffey made this eye-catching image, Once Forgotten, Now Remembered, sometime in the 20th century, probably using acrylics or oils on canvas. The colors are rich and the brushwork looks smooth. You can tell she took her time layering to get those tones and textures. There's a sort of dream-like quality to the way she mixes realistic figures with cartoonish elements, kind of like a vibrant memory. Just look at the pick in the boy’s hand, each comb is precisely painted and layered with contrasting shades to create texture and depth. Mahaffey’s combination of contemporary portraiture with surreal imagery reminds me a little bit of Kerry James Marshall, where historical and cultural references meet personal narratives. Like all good art, this piece leaves you with questions, not answers, so enjoy puzzling it out.