CAYLA BIRK.
Cayla Birk. is a young female artist at the precipice of a truly unique genre of fine art. She bridges the gap between intellect and design taking her collectors on a multi-level experience with each creation. Birk.'s cerebral approach is evident in her signature style that features verbiage and imagery found throughout pop culture, history, music, and literature. Her work seems whimsical at first, however as you delve in deeper, your senses are juxtaposed with a flood of vast austerity and knowledge. “I would like to think that my art, and its codes, in some way brings people outside of what they normally think and opens them up to something that they’ve never experienced before,” she said about her work. Birk was born in 1990 in Florida. Her upbringing exposed her to a variety of cultural and world experiences, which, along with her background in branding and as a former apprentice to artist Yaari, have influenced her work today. She has stated that a lot of her inspiration comes from writers, musicians, and epistemologists such as Jack Kerouac, Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Palahniuk, and several others. Her mixed media works use traditional acrylic techniques with other unique materials, creating designs that are at once both recognizable and mysterious. Though the materials used in each project are varied, there is usually a recurring theme and subject matter linking the works together, such as an homage to a historical event, or social commentary about branding. Her interest in using hidden codes in her work came from her series of works known as “Birktones,” which was inspired by the use of coded numbers to identify Pantone colors, a concept she came across when she started her career in advertising. Her subsequent series of works such as “The Periodic Table of Relevance” and “Scriptures” have thus integrated their own sets of codes within her mixed media pieces. Birk’s work has been featured in galleries such as Gallery 212 in Miami and Contessa Gallery in Ohio. She currently lives and works in Palm Beach, Florida.
THE SERIES
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PERIODIC TABLE OF RELEVANCE
This series pays homage to the Periodic Table of Elements, a subject truly “elementary” in nature. Commonly taught in the early years of education, the recognizable squares make this body of work extremely approachable. As an austere nod in both rhyme and relatability, the works feature an actual existing element. Each canvas retains the atomic number (found in the left hand corner) and letters for real scientific elements while being juxtaposed by faux names and atomic weights. The given names are “relevant” societal nouns or statements; the numbers are alphanumeric cyphers that say hidden words.
GOLDEN RULE
This series explores the lyrical impact of musical artists. Each typographic quote comes from a classic Hip Hop song and is to be seen as a decree; a golden rule to follow. As such, they are social commentaries often thought of or referenced in pop culture. With respect to the early era of Hip-Hop this series features the words of Wu-Tang Clan, Notorious BIG, Nas, Q-Tip, CL Smooth, Pete Rock, and The Fugees.
SHOEICIDE
This series objectifies shoe culture in society while simultaneously remarking on work ethic and the destinations one can attain through said shoes. Although subtle satire is in place, the series very much encapsulates the ideologies of urban culture. Each piece states an austere statement that is remarking on shoes. These stringent aphorisms provide social commentary on the everyday hustle of life, specifically the life path each wearer of shoes endures.
DOCTOR’S ORDERS
The Doctor's Orders series takes a satirical, yet vivacious approach to modern medical prescriptions (Rx). This body of work highlights more "progressive" cures for the human condition, so to speak. As individuals we all have our own vices and actions that cure our sadness or renew/excite the soul. With said cures in mind, each typographical statement boasts an "Rx" in place of an "R". Further homage is paid to the series through mixed media found papers in the background; each piece includes vintage medical ephemera and collector's edition Marvel Dr. Strange comics.
OVER
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
SILVER TONGUE
The Silver Tongue series is aptly named for the sly statements the work boasts, paying homage to the old adage "silver tongue devil". The works are intended to provoke the observer - taking on an austere persona with each different decree. With informal, yet witty verbiage, each piece makes the viewer realize that the painting is aware of their presence. Various pieces explore themes of travel, positivity, and personal virtues.