{"id":262680,"date":"2026-01-25T03:36:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T03:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/262680\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T03:36:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T03:36:18","slug":"two-artists-consider-how-chicago-shapes-its-youth-in-world-in-my-eyes-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/262680\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Artists Consider How Chicago Shapes Its Youth in ‘World in My Eyes’ \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joy Machine is thrilled to present\u00a0World in My Eyes<\/a>, a duo exhibition of Chicago artists\u00a0Kayla Mahaffey<\/a>\u00a0and Joseph Perez, a.k.a.\u00a0Sentrock<\/a>.<\/p>\n

World in My Eyes\u00a0is, first and foremost, rooted in the lives of everyday people. Both Sentrock and Mahaffey have long depicted friends and neighbors in their own Chicago neighborhoods, exploring how our city shapes its youngest residents. How are children cared for? How are their imaginations and dreams nurtured? These questions recur throughout both artists\u2019 practices and always hinge on another: how do children thrive amid turmoil, whether political, cultural, or personal?<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Sentrock, \u201cBetter days ahead\u201d (2026), spray paint and latex paint on canvas, 36 x 48 inches<\/p>\n

In\u00a0World in My Eyes, Sentrock\u2019s signature bird character meets Mahaffey\u2019s energetic cast. Each artist confronts an underlying struggle\u2014whether an unrealized dream or a physical need\u2014not through an unrealistic swaddle of optimism but rather through the often-repeated idea that hope is a practice. For children, and for all of us seeking a better tomorrow, hope starts with courage.<\/p>\n

An opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on January 30. RSVP<\/a>. See more from Mahaffey<\/a> and Sentrock<\/a> previously on Colossal.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Kayla Mahaffey, \u201cA Pleasant Distraction\u201d(2026), acrylic on linen, 12 x 12 inches<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Sentrock, \u201cOn the clock\u201d (2026), spray paint and latex paint on canvas, 40 x 60 inches<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Kayla Mahaffey, \u201cDire Consequences\u201d (2026), acrylic on linen, 12 x 14 inches<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Sentrock, \u201cBetter days ahead study 01\u201d (2026), colored pencil on paper in oak frame, 5 x 7 inches, 10.5 x 12.5 inches framed<\/p>\n

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