Kai Barrows

I am Kai Barrows, a qpoc artist born and raised on Cape Cod. I spent the past few years traveling before finding myself back on Cape in the village of Cotuit, where I now spend my days sketching strangers at the beach.

I don’t fear the blank, white canvas. I revel in the opportunity to build form and allow imperfect features to reveal themselves as I paint my subjects. Whether I am painting a model from life and direct observation, or referencing an old polaroid photo, I create alla-prima pieces that capture specific moments and memories, evoking intimacy and nostalgia within a quick and confident application of oil paint. This ethos applies to my drawings as well. I utilize a wide variety of media as supplementary materials in my practice to study my models, investigating the intricacies of their bodies, witnessing how they interact with the world, in swift, guestural motions.

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My art is a celebration of the human condition, finding beauty in the seemingly mundane aspects of life, and my creative process is constantly fueled by the people I meet, the activities I enjoy, and the natural world that surrounds me. I pour sensuality into my work, illuminating details that may go unnoticed due to lack of persistent observation. Through my art, I seek to share unique stories, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a world seen through my eyes.