Mckinney’s paintings present intimate portraits of a lone protagonist, primarily female, lost in moments of deep reflection and respite within lushly colored interior spaces. In these scenes, the artist pays particular attention to the gaze of her subject. At times, the figure captures the viewer’s eye, but most often the subject focuses on a space only visible to them, engrossed in their own solitude and rituals. The nuanced details of the paintings – a trail of smoke, the glisten of a necklace – invite further observation to reveal hidden narratives, exploring themes of spirituality and the self with cathartic effect.
Danielle McKinney (b. 1981) creates narrative paintings that often focus on the solitary female protagonist. In these intimate portraits, McKinney captures the figure immersed in various leisurely pursuits and moments of deep reflection. Engaging with themes of spirituality and self, her paintings uncover hidden narratives and conjure dreamlike spaces, often within the interior domestic sphere. With a background in photography, McKinney paints with an acute awareness of the female gaze, employing deeply colorful hues and nuanced details with cinematic effect. McKinney received her BFA from Atlanta College of Arts and holds an MFA in Photography from Parsons School of design.
WEST HARLEM ART FUND 