Kyra Payne, the creator behind Kiki Plz, grew up in Mill Valley and now lives, practices art and teaches ceramics in Mexico City. We adore the raw, hand sculpted and playful nature of her ceramic objects. It's super fun to see a resurgence of kinetic sculptures in Kyra's collection; hers are especially charming with their various shapes, often a chair or two, revolving under the influence of the faintest current of air.
8 Questions
Describe the moment you realized art fed your soul.
When I was 19 I was badly burned, losing most of the skin on my thigh. Between time in the hospital, surgery, and a long recovery I was left very shaken up. In the aftermath I created a large sculptural project that was a cast of my leg painted, covered with wax, and with candles burning down it– almost like an altar to the burn. In creating this piece I was able to profoundly move through the lingering fear the burn had left me with, allowing me to realize the powerful role art can play as a tool for healing.
What themes do you pursue in your art?
I’m interested in how forms interact with their environments, whether that is a mobile in conversation with the negative space through which it moves or a small sculpture capturing movement through gesture.
Tell us about what influences the direction for your craft.
Living in Mexico, the liveliness all around, the constantly blurred line of art with quotidian objects, gives me near-constant inspiration. Most signs– such as for a taqueria, a haircut, a mechanic– are hand painted, and buildings boast bright colors– on my block all the stores are painted a vibrant red. This level of playfulness woven into daily life inspires me to not fear experimenting with play in my own work.
How has your work developed over time?
With ceramics, space limitations have taught me to explore translating the inherent power of working large-scale to a much smaller scale. As a result, I’ve placed an emphasis on mobiles, which exist as many small pieces occupying the space of one large sculpture.
What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?
My needle tool! While so simple, I can’t do anything without it!
Do you collect anything?
I am very weak for miniatures of all kinds.
What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve seen, read, watched or listened to recently?
I recently watched a documentary about the production of clay building materials, specifically roof shingles, in a town called Jamiltepec in Mexico, where each shingle is hand cut, shaped, and smoothed before being fired in a traditional wood oven. It was beautiful to see the love and craftsmanship put into something that in many other contexts is mass produced in a factory.
What advice would you give to your younger self about your artistic journey?
Don’t be so cheap when it comes to certain necessary materials and tools, such as a good dye pot or a thoughtful ceramics setup!
Bonus Question: What role does music play for you while you work?
When I’m in a real groove working for hours, I love to sing Peggy Seeger’s album, Songs in the American Tradition, to myself. It’s my ultimate hack for staying focused!
Kyra Payne's Kiki Plz art collection is at once cheeky and irreverent. Bright colors, watercolor paintings, and a charm in the rudimentary approach the artist takes in her ceramic sculpting make this art approachable and delightful. Explore her artwork collection, Kiki Plz, on our website here.
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