Interview
Kayla Spain
Kayla Marie Spain was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is an interdisciplinary artist, specializing in acrylic.
From an early age, Kayla was drawn to art, music, and science. She continued learning to play piano after being granted the opportunity to audition at the High School of Arts, even though she stayed at the Milwaukee School of Languages.
Kayla later went to Alverno College, where she graduated with a degree in art in 2010, and she has been painting ever since.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“At the age of six, in the first grade, my teacher stood next to my desk and told me to pursue art, painting in particular. The teacher said at my age, I was outstanding at color mixing, blending tertiary colors and complimentary colors on paper.”
What inspires you most?
“I am an African American artist who strives to do great things. What inspires me the most is femininity, love, and music.”
“My underlying message is for women to break barriers in the world. I'm not expecting us to come out on top, but to be treated as equals when it comes to opportunities, rather than being overpowered.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The theme I explore most is femininity. I love to paint flowers and creatures, and my work tends to have a touch of surrealism, blending reality and non-reality. Recently, I have found myself doing splash art.”
How would you describe your work?
“My art is vibrant and inquisitive/intriguing. I'm an emotional artist who enjoys light through dark contrast, showing the beauty in everything.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My favorite artists are Vincent van Gogh and Odilon Redon. There are also some artists I discovered through Instagram, such as Anthony Rondinone and Humid Peach. As far as musicians go, Beethoven, Kanye West, and Yotto top the list.”
What is your creative process like?
"My creative process is Intent-Form-Content. I pick something and then work in the creative domain. Sometimes I work in the therapeutic domain, which is content first (improv). I use acrylics, and when I do my music, I use modular sounds against piano.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The role of an artist is to impact. I see it evolving through all different types of art genres.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My achievements are many. Winning 2nd place with my Kanye West Study at Alverno is one of them. The speech that one of the judges made about my artwork was priceless—all about the lines, the dimensions, and the colors.”
