Exploring heritage and history through a surreal lens.
This week we welcome Makayla Hughe, an artist whose work explores the intersections of perceived and true realities through a surrealistic lens. After earning her degree from Parsons School of Design in 2018, Hughe moved uptown to Harlem, where she continues to live and cultivate her artistic practice.
Hughe is driven by a passion for sharing aspects of African American history frequently omitted from mainstream representation – stories unheard of beyond the mouths of Black communities, as well as parts of the culture that have been intentionally buried. She originally set out to celebrate her people, but in time her goals have grown to embrace the preservation of African American culture and to challenge African American stereotypes.
“Grounding my work with factual visuals makes the subject matter I discuss universally identifiable to my viewers; by reinterpreting those visuals in a surreal setting challenges them to perceive these relatable objects differently,” she explained. “My goal in doing this is to offer a space for my viewers to engage more deeply with their personal preconceptions of what these visuals represent and encourage them to rethink their connection to the depicted injustices created when those visuals are placed in a particular setting.”
While navigating the demands of corporate jobs and developing her studio practice, Hughehas steadily built a presence within the New York art ecosystem. Her work has been exhibited at YUI Gallery & Lab and Art on the Ave’s “West Harlem: Where Art Lives,” among other shows. These opportunities have allowed her to bring her visions into conversation with her neighbors. Her work has also been recognized online, with a feature in the American Illustration Online Archive.
“I’ve come to realize that achieving greatness with my art requires patience. It’s impossible for me to sit down, solidify a concept, and complete a drawing all in one session. Personally, I obsess over the details and research. Each visual detail represents a fact, a part within the larger researched theme,” she said.
