Kailyn Hill is a senior receiving a Bachelor of Fine Art with a printmaking emphasis.

I asked Kailyn about their senior thesis, their style as an artist, and after graduation plans. They responded with this powerful statement.

“Most of the work I'm making now is using hair to assess the social and political implications of hair as a means of performing identity. I'm also considering themes such as preservation, commodification, personal history, cultural identity, ancestral memory in my work. 

I am in the beginning stages of this project addressing the impact of the "Fast Hair Industry" or "Fast Fashion" Hair, a term coined to discuss the over consumption and disposal of synthetic hair and weaves and its environmental impact. This project involves monoprints and embossments of synthetic braiding hair, of which I am in the process of making. I am also planning to combine weaves and synthetic braiding hair with found materials to create assemblages.

I would say that my work uses materials in some interesting ways, I combine things that you might not expect to see together. With my fibers for example I coat handmade paper in resin to subvert its temporal and ephemeral nature with pieces I call body weavings. 

After graduation the goal is to attend Grad school and become a working artist. I will however be taking a gap year to intermittently rest, take up residencies, and participate in workshops that will expand my skillset and knowledge of materials. My ultimate dream is to transform residential properties in my hometown of St. Louis into galleries to that provide communal art resources and opportunities to local and regional creatives, specifically Black and Queer artists. I'd love to make art more accessible to different communities around St Louis.”

See more of Kailyn's artwork below in image carousel!