ARTIST STATEMENT
In my practice, I am driven by the desire to capture the ephemeral nature of memories and the visual language of emotion. The imagery in my work is drawn from personal memories, often mundane moments that are imbued a quiet mysticism. Using little to no references I allow emotions to take precedence over accurate representation. Forms are often replaced with pure color, abstracting my subject into an energetic field. Moments of realism are used to anchor the piece in reality. As of recent, my work has begun to utilize foraged inks and pigments. Driven by a desire to deepen my connection with the natural world, I paint with handmade paints collected from my environment. Living in such a fast-paced environment like Chicago, I have found the slowness of pigment-making to be calming and meditative, allowing for a personal intimacy with the natural landscape of Chicago.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Hailey MacKenzie is a Chicago-based painter from Wisconsin. She is currently pursuing her BFA and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and expects to graduate in December 2025 with Honors. She has exhibited in group shows around Chicago with the Chicago Fine Art Salon’s exhibition “Love”, as well as the SAIC Artbash Gallery. Her work features themes of memory and personal mythology.
© Hailey MacKenzie