Welcome.

My name is Kayla Mitchell, I am a professional oil painter and illustrator. I live in the world of mid-century Americana and explore narrative themes of love, loss, and the passage of time through my work.

I am fascinated by tropes and characters we all know in classic Americana imagery. My work aims to dive deeper into these characters, using juxtaposition to establish narratives. My style leans towards contemporary realism with an illustrative edge. I am drawn towards unnatural symmetry, repetition, and objects used as clues hinting at a larger story.

Born in New Jersey, I achieved a BFA in Illustration from the late University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. I am the recipient of several artistic accolades, including the competitive Mary B. Sweeney annual scholarship. Upon graduation, I stepped into the world of corporate graphic design for a global company before transitioning into narrative oil painting at my private studio on Long Island.