Bio of L.B. McKay

 

L.B. McKay grew up in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Years later she moved to El Paso, Texas in the United States and eventually became an American Citizen. While adjusting to a different culture and lifestyle, she became interested in women’s issues due to her own struggles in life in both countries.
McKay’s main objective for her life’s work took root while she was a student at The El Paso Community College. In the process of taking basic courses McKay discovered while taking a class in Art Appreciation course her love for art. She enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso to pursue her goal and graduated cum laude in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree. Her major was painting and her minor drawing.
McKay uses her own personal philosophy along with targeted investigations to evoke thought provoking ideas for her work. Throughout the process she seeks answers to many of the social, political, and religious issues that she questions. Her art incorporates Baroque features as well as a style that she describes as Abstract Expressionism and Contemporary Feminist Art.

 

Artist Statement

Throughout western and global history, women have been discriminated against in the economic and political arena. Sexism has been a vicious cycle for women to contend with in the marketplace and society at large. My artwork is an investigation of discrimination gender and the human condition in general.
My paintings employ the sharp contrast of light and dark, a flair for the dramatic, and expressive gestures similar to artists of the Baroque school. The dark and rich palette I use is instrumental in developing a significant and emotional impact on the canvas.
I am intrigued by the photographs of Joel-Peter Witkin. He demonstrates reality in a cruel and raw manner by using alive and dead people with odd physical capabilities in a graphic manner. Like Witkins, I use photography with live models as a starting point for most of my paintings.
In my paintings I try to connect to those women that cannot speak for themselves. Through my palette I am transmitting my emotions through colors and techniques I feel best represents their particular situation. Therefore, I depict the women in my paintings with the emotional drama and characteristics of their bold struggles.