Shaina McCoy

It’s a Family Affair

- Shaquille Heath

My conversation with Shaina McCoy happened about a week after Father’s Day. I had spent that previous Sunday morning going through old pictures, aiming to find that idyllic shot of my dad for an Instagram story commemorating the yearly occasion. It turned out to be the perfect way to prepare for our interview. A 1990’s kid like McCoy, my family photos are a collection of faded polaroids and wallet-size portrait studio shots. There are lots of feathered bangs, GAP hoodies, and overalls, reminiscent of a time when these portraits were the art that tightly lined the crannies of our living room walls. And, if you’ve visited your parents recently, this fact likely still holds true.

These snapshots are the catalyst for McCoy’s colorful, charming portraits, which feature memories from her own family’s photo albums. With thick dollops, richly textured, she caresses Black familial intimacy in moments that are beyond tender. Immersed in her work, I’m transported to Saturday get-togethers with my own family… when Pac fades to Stevie and the cigarettes burn slow.