Meet kayleen Berry

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kayleen Berry . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kayleen, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

I’ve always been an optimistic and bubbly person by default, but I think I’ve taken inspiration from animals and nature, as silly as that might sound. I see the world in such a vibrant way, whether that is seeing the goodness in the people I meet or finding the silver lining when things don’t really go as planned. Although I admit it can be difficult to remain optimistic during tough times, when that happens, I try to hit the pause button and go back to what inspires me, forcing myself to see the beauty around me and taking a step back to express gratitude.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Well! I’m a surrealist artist, and I paint animals in ethereal spaces. I have been an artist my whole life. I have had an affinity for drawing for as long as I can remember and went on to study at the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan. I grew up in the Bronx, so it was quite the trek for a teenager. After that, I attended the California College of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in textiles. Today, my studio practice is focused on creating works on large-scale canvases that speak to my experience as a Puerto Rican artist. My biggest inspiration stems from my cultural connection to animals and dreamscape spaces. Through this new body of work, I am able to spark conversations about unknown spaces, such as the island of Cayo Santiago off of Puerto Rico, where there are over 1,000 free roaming monkeys. These conversations are important because there are researchers who are actively studying these monkeys to learn more about our species—humans! My surrealist approach is often displayed through ethereal and dreamlike hues while also toying with fictitious landscapes.
Currently, my main focus for the next few months is building the story of Cayo Santiago through a series of paintings for an upcoming show in April 2025 at Taller Boricua, curated by Nitza Tufiño.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

oh boy, I believe that we will always be students and our practices will continue to shift and grow as we get older. However, I think remaining confident in your conviction is probably one of the most invaluable tools. Second, embody what you do. What I mean by that is, eat, sleep, and dream about what you’re working on. I like to joke with my wife and friends about making my art practice my entire personality, but truthfully, it is! And lastly, really exercise your network !!! Everyone is connected one way or another, so always remain kind and genuine.
AND a bonus one for fun, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I think, no matter the profession, its best to be well-rounded. It’s important to feel in control of your work and your voice. As an artist, the thing that comes naturally to me is creating; its my strongest asset. However, being a full-time artist requires you wear a lot of different hats and sometimes it can feel very uncomfortable. For example, for a long time, my weakest area was actually discussing the work in person, which is kind of important. So, that meant really taking time to practice and say it out loud. That way, I would never feel stumped again and wouldn’t do a disservice to the paintings I had been working so hard on.

Investing your time and energy in those areas will make you feel like you truly have a grip on your career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kayleendaa.com
• Instagram: @kayleendaa

Image Credits

photo 1 – via SAB gallery