Photos from @katinthecloudz Instagram feed
The beauty of art is that it can create a world entirely different yet familiar from the one we live in. Kat Alyst is a visual creator and a catalyst who introduces people to various art forms through her photography. While her medium of choice may result in photos, she takes more pride in calling herself an artist rather than a photographer. Kat’s practice focuses on creating a moment rather than capturing one. With a colorful and thought-provoking portfolio, Kat has been featured in digital and print publications worldwide.
“Like every Aquarian, Kat Alyst defies categorization by being original and a little eccentric, which can be appreciated in her work,” V Magazine described regarding her work “She lives her life — both personally and professionally — by her own set of rules, not falling for what is typically expected of female photographers.”
Like every artist, Kat has her own trademark. Delving into a series of works reminiscent of magic realism, her photographs create visual narratives with distinct color use and lonesome expression. Kat’s works stand at a distorted line where surrealism meets fashion, depicting the subject as someone longing for something that has yet to come. Her direction often has models staring at the viewer as if inviting them to live in their world. The ones that stare away evoke an implication that they would instead pass on the invitation. In either instance, the duration of the gaze becomes a reflection of the piece.
Because of the challenges the photography field poses, Kat Alyst is determined to deliver works she can be proud of. “I won’t accept mediocre results and would always do my best while working under pressure,” she explained, “Failure is not an option, whether I’m shooting for myself or others.”
For the artist, lately, her self-portrait series is geared towards helping people feel less lonely with their struggles. She wants them to be able to relate to the main message of the work or find pieces of any narrative that they can relate to. Earlier this year, Kat revealed that she works towards creations that speak about her personal struggles over the last couple of years. The purpose is to create a safe space for all who attend during the show’s debut.
Kat believes that it is essential to pay forward the inspiration she received and practice “being there” for others with how short life is. She is continuing the progress for her show to come this year, titled ‘Someone is Trying to Tell You Something,’ which we believe to be her most vulnerable artwork to date. With eleven photographs printed large-scale, the series consists of self-portrait works that are created to hold space for all audiences to explore within.
With the pandemic still looming over the globe, Kat Alyst has no choice but to wait for it to subside. She plans to hold her show in public. Although her venue is yet to be determined, Kat is hopeful that her work can be shared regardless in a gallery setting or digitally.
Learn more about Kat Alyst by Following her official Instagram.
