Artist: Manda McKay | Location: Athens, GA
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Artist: Manda McKay | Location: Athens, GA
Athens, GA
Manda McKay is a medical illustrator turned painter living in Athens, Georgia. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She then worked for two years as the illustrator at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine before returning to Athens to freelance in veterinary illustration.
Manda's paintings have been displayed in numerous museums and in solo and juried exhibitions. She has won several awards, including Best in Show in the 2013 Southworks juried exhibition.
A love of nature is evident in her subject matter. Feathers, shells, bones, fruit, and flowers are arranged in bold, simple compositions. The influence of her former profession can be seen in her realistic technique, but unlike medical illustrations, her paintings are meant to persuade rather than inform.
"I paint with an ulterior motive," she says. "My still lifes highlight humanitarian concerns by combining natural objects into suggestive new forms. Various items become shorthand for provocative concepts. I hope that raw honesty can challenge ugly beliefs. To inspire change is exciting to me."