Kailyn Humphreys

Kailyn Humphreys is an illustrator and animator residing in Moh’kinsstis, Alberta. His work primarily focuses on topics regarding his personal lived experiences as a queer trans man in Alberta, and are typically depicted through fictional fantasy worlds, personified creatures and objects, and traditional acrylic painting. Incorporating the surreal and abstract into 2-D illustration, animation, and ceramics Kailyn communicates his struggles with mental health, familial relations, and his disconnect with his body via intense and graphic visual storytelling. All his work is aiming to create community and connection with the LGBTQ2S+ community in Calgary and all of Canada by allowing vulnerability and honesty to shine through the process and final product. While the tone may shift considerably from bright, colourful and maximalist to muted, monochromatic, and clean, his message stays the same: to listen and to be heard.
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kailyn finds a large chunk of his current inspiration linked to Calgary Artists, many of whom he has had the pleasure of interacting within the community. Of course, Winnipeg is home, and Kailyn is inspired by various artists from there such as: Rhael McGregor, Sarah E. Fuller, and Cato Cormier. Artist from Calgary such as Hal Hays, Jillian Fleck, Nick Johnson, Karl Geist and especially fellow trans muralist Kat Simmers. All these amazing artists leak into Kailyn’s work, helping him fine-tune his content to best visually express his own personal experiences in as many diverse ways as possible.