Kadyn M.

A Slice of Elsewhere 1
Credit: Kadyn M.Artist Bio

Kadyn is a third-year art therapy graduate student at Lewis & Clark, interning at a group practice specializing in gender affirming care in Portland. Her journey as an art therapist-in-training reflects the theme of transformation, as she navigates the space between student and professional. Through pieces like A Slice of Elsewhere and Chaos for Clarity, Kadyn explores the importance of prioritizing the self in an emotionally demanding field. While studying to become an art therapist, Kadyn has deepened her appreciation for mindfulness and finding joy in the present moment. Her artwork reflects a need to create and prioritize a soft place of rest and retreat. As a child, much of Kadyn’s time was spent immersed in the forest, imagining an expansive world of fairies and stories. This playful, fantastical spirit is echoed in her artwork, as she invites viewers to join her in slowing down, tuning in, and embracing joy.

A lifelong artist and dabbler, Kadyn has always enjoyed exploring different mediums. While her first loves were music, painting and drawing, Kadyn has recently shifted more towards an emphasis on enjoying the creative process over the medium or the outcome. An advocate for accessible mental health care, Kadyn is currently active in legislative efforts to expand art therapy’s reach in Oregon, and is a student ambassador for the Lewis & Clark Graduate School.

Artist Statement

“A Slice of Elsewhere 1”

I’ll let you in on a big secret: I’m a forest nymph, my friends are the opossums and the deer and the bugs. Compared to the ancient softness of the forest, the city can feel abrasive. In the forest, the pace of life is slower; creatures are attuned to the shifts of the wind, the scent of wet soil, and the warmth of a late afternoon sunbeam. Through this artwork, I have created a pocket of softness in a world that can feel quite sharp. In A Slice of Elsewhere, I welcome you to my peaceful refuge, my world of respite.

“A Slice of Elsewhere 2”

This magical, mysterious piece invites viewers to fully immerse themselves in the soft dreamscape of A Slice of Elsewhere. As an extension of A Slice of Elsewhere 1, this work moves the peaceful refuge into the three-dimensional space, bridging the world of the painting with that of the viewer. By encouraging shifts in perspective—walking around the piece, examining it up close, or viewing it from afar—it offers a moment of pause and a chance to discover a nook or cranny where the mind can rest.

“Chaos for Clarity”

As an art therapy intern, I create art to gain deeper insights into my clients, myself, and the world around me. However, I also create art solely for my own joy—to play and explore. From mixing paints and washing brushes, to the feelings of accomplishment and pride when completing a piece, Chaos for Clarity provides a gentle escape from the everyday.