We're not leaving anytime soon: a conversation with ICON11′s PR/Communications Chair, Kayla E.
Kayla E. is a queer Latina artist, editor, and designer. A graduate of Harvard University, Kayla holds a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies. She is the founder of Design Altar and works as Editor-in-Chief and Art Director of Nat. Brut Magazine. She has been profiled by NPR, The Huffington Post, Design*Sponge, and The Establishment, among others. Her work was selected for the annual hardcover edition of American Illustration 37, and she serves on the board of directors of ICON 11. Originally from Texas, Kayla lives with her fiancée Laura Bullard in North Carolina.
What's your favorite memory from past ICON conferences?
Esther Pearl Watson invited me to be a mainstage speaker for ICON9, which was, in and of itself, an amazing experience. I've been a fan of hers for years.
Right before I was going to walk onstage, I was so nervous that I felt like I was going to pass out, and Esther came up to me and gave me a big hug and a little note.
It said something sweet like: "You're doing great!" and she told me to put it on the podium next to my notes.
I almost keeled over from fear, but her kind, generous, and thoughtful gesture helped me make it through.
Tell me about your practice!
I am a cartoonist and painter, but I also do performance work surrounding the main character of my cartooning practice (her name is Kayla, and she's me). I also run my own graphic design firm, and I am the editor in chief and art director of Nat. Brut, an art and literary magazine.
What is your studio/office space like?
My fiancée Laura and I live in a small town in North Carolina and recently bought a house. We've had a ton of fun renovating it, and I've made myself a little chapel/studio in a weird room that is either a big closet with some windows or a tiny bedroom without a closet.
It's painted deep indigo that looks like dark green in the right light. I've hung up a lot of plants, some religious iconography, a few wooden crosses, and a lot of old toys. I have a computer and some paintings I’m working on in there, too.
What's your hometown and where do you currently live?
I grew up in a trailer park in DeSoto, TX, a small town south of Dallas. I currently live in Burlington, NC, by way of Beaufort, SC.
I love tiny places in the Deep South. The past is always present here—the violence, resilience, and resistance permeates every aspect of daily living.
As a queer Tejana in the arts, I like reminding people that folks like me are here, we've always been here, and we're not leaving anytime soon.
Who are some of your favorite emerging creatives?
My favorite artist right now is Amanda Baeza. I can’t get enough of her work!
