Kay’ Leigh Fisher is an accomplished artist, curator and publisher who focuses on exploring the themes of identity, growth and relationships in her artwork. Her work explores the connections between race and gender in today’s society, offering a personal and political perspective.
Growing up in a coloured community in Johannesburg, Kay’Leigh was drawn to art from a young age. She pursued her passion by studying Design in high school, but initially considered pursuing a more traditional career, like becoming a lawyer, as the first in her family to attend university.
After completing her studies , Kayleigh realised that are was not just a stepping stone, but the true purpose of her journey. She engages with the editorial content on social media, reflecting on the hidden messages within images and reshaping her perception of people online with a sense of care.
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Kay’Leigh reinterprets original images using photo editing software, creating her own representations of identities. Through techniques like mirroring, she juxtaposes figures and envisions the complex, layered identities that exist beneath the surface of airbrushed images. These ideas are then translated into artworks using charcoal, chalk, and paint.
Kay’Leigh frequently visits exhibitions featuring young South African artists, seeking inspiration and experimenting with new mediums to refine her skills.
She acknowledges that working on large artworks can sometimes lead to a loss of focus due to the lengthy process involved. To combat this, she finds solace in small creative projects that are purely driven by the joy of creating, helping her regain her focus.
