Kayla Stafinbil

Artist Kayla Stafinbil works in a variety of mediums with an emphasis in metal sculpture. Her sculptures play with ideas of form and fantasy while drawing on ideas of mysticism. Utilizing the lost wax casting process, she creates organic forms that oppose the rigid material they are made from. She hopes to accomplish a sense of familiarity in her art that provides comfort from memories. The organic forms that she creates bring back the sense of wonder experience throughout life.

Stafinbil has shown exclusively at San Jose State University’s College of Art building since 2017. Most of her work has been shown along classmates work to exhibit the limitless possibilities that happen in the

metal working facilities on campus. In April 2018 she has a bracelet on display with the 146 and 147 class display. November 2017, she had multiple piece on display in a specially curated exhibit titled Spures. On display was Always Upright Spoon, and Process (2017), Happy Bunny Fountain (2017), Elegant Brace (2017). The only show to display non-sculpture artwork was a viewing of two paintings, Moon Drip and Sun Drop (2017). Previous group shows include showcasing of water color studies. In high school she did her first showing in a school wide show. She submitted an installation titled Villain’s Tea Party (2013), it won best in show and it the only award she has won to date.

Her most ambitious body of work was her two-sculpture solo exhibition Faceted Self(2019). In this show she casted replicas of her torso and grew pink and purple crystals on each of them. The concept for this show derives from her own struggle with body image and what she has learned about true self appreciation through years of hard work. Much of the narrative is a commentary on current societal views on what self-care should be as opposed to what it takes realistically to gain a healthy image of oneself.

Stafinbil’s art education officially started in high school she did not learn anything from the loosely structed curriculum. This is when she began experimenting with non- traditional art doing explorations of assemblage and 3-dimensional works. In 2016 Stafinbil began education in art at San Jose State University where she has primarily spent her time in the metal fabrication and casting classes. Outside of school she works as an after-school art teacher at a private art studio which has given her a strong foundation in traditional fine art. She pans on continuing her education to become a high school art teacher to inspire a love of art in future generations.