Shaina McCoy: At Play
For AT PLAY, Shaina McCoy presents a new body of vibrant and playful paintings that capture figures in action and movement. McCoy's paintings blur the boundaries between public and private identity, drawing inspiration from cherished images from her family's photo albums. With a distinctive style characterized by rich, glossy, and vivid brush strokes, the artist creates portraits of intentionally featureless faces; by withholding the figures ́ characteristics in the original photographs, McCoy explores identity through the presentation of fragmented memories. Whether engaged in sports and gymnastics, simple pleasures such as fishing, cycling, or even playing with a balloon, the artist highlights the raw and genuine emotions embedded in these moments. The direct gaze of the subjects towards the camera establishes a connection with the audience, while also reflecting the proud admiration and joy experienced at the time of capturing the original photograph.
Shaina McCoy (b. 1993, Minneapolis, MN) is an artist living and working in Los Angeles. McCoy graduated from Minneapolis Community and Technical College with an AA in Fine Art in 2017. Selected exhibitions include The Gaze, A Hug from the Art World, New York (2023); CADILLAC4, Duarte Sequeira HQ, Braga (2022); APPLES AND ORANGES, Simchowitz Gallery (2022); BABIES HOLDIN' BABIES, Stems Gallery, Paris, France (2021); Miami Art Basel, Jeffrey Deitch gallery, (2021); B IS FOR, Stems, Brussels, Belgium (2021); FATHER, FATHER, François Ghebaly, Los Angeles, CA (2020); BREAD AND BUTTER, Ever Gold [Projects], San Francisco, CA (2019); Gold Standard: Ten Year Anniversary Exhibition, Ever Gold [Projects], San Francisco, CA (2019); Astral Art Theories , Radisson RED, Minneapolis, MN (2018); 33 Works By 3 Artists, Ever Gold [Projects], San Francisco, CA (2018); Now More Than Always (Gimme Gimme the Money Please Please I Want the Money Please) , Gildar Gallery, Denver, CO (2017); OverNorth Part 2, Venture North, Minneapolis, MN (2015); and Rapper’s Delight , City Wide Artists Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (2015).
