Kayla Mahaffey

Chicago Hope

- Gwynned Vitello

Like clusters of colorful balloons bobbing with uncontained hope and perseverance, the wide-eyed children thriving in Kayla Mahffey’s portraits strive with a bright determination. She renders them with a vibrant buoyancy that seems to burst off the canvas in bubbles of freedom and adventure. The scenes summon nostalgia for the innocence of youth, while eliciting a warm protectiveness, inspired by the artist's loving care for her subjects and the craft of painting. In that process, Mahaffey’s vignettes easily inspire our collective responsibility to each other. As a proud Midwesterner, Chicago-born and bred, she’s a radiant reminder of the satisfaction of hard work. With time out for cartoons, of course.

Gwynned Vitello: When I moved to a smaller place and didn’t have as much room for books, I made my children’s books a priority. I love the illustrations, and the messages give me a lot of joy. I feel like you might share that fondness.

When did you start drawing? Did you like coloring books growing up?

Kayla Mahaffey: Growing up, I had tons of coloring books. The editions ranged from My Little Pony, Barbie, and the ’90s favorite, Lisa Frank. I think my parents bought them for me as a way to stop me from doodling on the walls! Coloring books not only taught me how to color in the lines but to have fun with art and use it therapeutically.