~ Kay Irene Meza ~
Where to find me! My Instagram.
Artist's statement
This work, "What the-?" includes two large-scale monotype posters based on a horror film. I chose two personal favorites, Frankenhooker and Sleepaway Camp, both films that were considered "D-Grade" horror at the time of their release and have since seen new appreciation. Frankenhooker is a rated-R film that was released in 1990 by Frank Henenlotter. It consists of a male medical student reconstructing his deceased fiancée with other body parts that came from Manhattan sex workers. The other R-rated horror film is Sleepaway Camp, which was released in 1983 and directed and written by Robert Hiltzik. A summary of the plot is how an eccentric aunt sends her son and orphaned niece to a camp that starts experiencing such strange and mysterious murders. These films have such a deep connection to me due to how queerness and sex work were viewed from the 80's to the 90's. The way these films were not appreciated when they first came out and/or had much criticism towards it all till now is almost a cult classic and how much a new generation views the film shows how it aged beautifully. My project can show an exact scene and/or character on the poster with bright colored inks and grainy texture on large 22 by 30-inch paper
Artist's bio
Kayla I Meza is a mixed race Chicago-native artist. Kayla's painting and drawing skills aided their art now because they displayed it for others to view, especially at their former elementary and high school. She has painted murals and stairwell steps at the school to get students interested in their environment. For their inspiration, she mixes her undying love for horror with cartoony color. Listening to 80's/90's music or having background noise from old raunchy reality shows is part of their creative process. This experience helps Kayla put many ideas into their artwork no matter the prompt. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, their art gives such influence to arrange into the medium. Patience and time go toward my motivation to be an artist and want me to do more.