Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Millward.
Hi Kylie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been interested in art my entire life. So much so that I studied illustration and animation at the University of Kansas, practiced as a professional freelance illustrator, and returned to school to earn my MFA in Art at the University of Utah. In order to fund my education, I worked as a wildland firefighter in the summers, which also turned into a secondary career. I have been teaching art for 8 years now. I served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah for a few years, as an art teacher at Silver Summit Academy in Park City, and now teach art at Stansbury High School and continue to freelance.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some things have been difficult throughout my journey to understand myself and what type of image-maker I am. The MFA program I chose was critical for my artistic growth. The most challenging portion has been figuring out how to finance my creative endeavors, as well as the cost of living. Therefore, I have had to take jobs I am not fully passionate about in order to make things work, which I understand is not uncommon in the creative industry and is something I have come to terms with.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would describe myself as an illustrator. I am very interested in narrative and visual metaphors. In addition, I use a variety of mediums such as animation, printmaking, 3D fiber sculpture, etc. The work I create focuses on normalizing taboo subjects. At the moment, I am creating large plushies of menstrual products, which serve multiple purposes. A project I am most proud of is an exhibition about PMS that I was invited to participate in by illustrator, Meltem Sahin. For that project, I created three animated gifs about different phases of PMS. This led to another invitation by the same illustrator to participate in a collaborative project in partnership with GIPHY.
The following is my artist statement: Circumstances created by gender inequality cultivate the formation of toxic ideas that all people grow up with.
Often, our culture forces individuals to fit within narrow categories, and this massive pressure to conform can lead to feelings of shame, depression, and even self-destructive behavior. Through humor, educational devices, and accessible media such as colored pencils, animation, and plush toys, my work confronts the unrealistic expectations placed upon women and our ability to overcome them.
Our society needs a positive narrative that empowers people to recognize their limitless strength and capacity, which will improve the quality of life for future generations.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Salt Lake City has an excellent art community. Through connections made during my MFA program at the University of Utah, I have been fortunate enough to be included in a tight-knit group of incredible artists and friends, who continue to challenge and improve my practice and philosophy greatly.
I do not enjoy the pollution in Salt Lake Valley.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kyliemillward.com
- Instagram: @kyliemillward
Image Credits
Portrait by Trey Millward
