McKayla Chandler

having an art studio has brought me so much joy <3 posting a reminder to self - have fun! trust yourself! stay curious!

The Will to Love Golden West College Feb 18th - March 20th Things that come to mind when I think about love — My mother braiding my hair. A picture I took of my nana sitting on the edge of her bed, framed by my right hand and her left. Holding a photograph of my granny, sister and dad. Sending them all telepathic kisses. Going back to Gary and laying out family photos on my nanas rug, remembering the beach house in Miller. Making use of my broken hands, they still hold all of my memories. Thank you @jahzmen for curating this show 💌 and to @gwc.art for the space.

Some time ago I started exploring the idea of printing my photographs on silk and framing them with my hands 🤲🏾 Last winter, I casted my Nana’s hands and they’re the most treasured pieces i’ve ever made.

A Little While Longer — Clips + stills from my second short film while attending USC that I didn’t finish the voice over for (sorry not sorry) I was really tired, but I also really love the visuals. My short story was about sisterhood. One friend out of the bunch is moving away so they come together to spend one last night with her. Our main gal (Ari) reminisces on all the times her girls have shown up, and wishes it could all last a little while longer. My lovely ladies made this night so much easier for me @ari_fauna @dak__kotah @qurissy 🖤 title card @ketutheartist dp @stephenbchen 1st ad/sound @hugocorch

Auntie Raven, in my parent’s living room. My lovely, wild n free gemini! I’ve made it my mission to photograph my family any time i’m back in the midwest. May the archive expand, may the beauty of aging be preserved eternally with love, may my elders feel chosen and worthy of remembrance.

<33 happy to have a point n shoot on my side again

i miss i love, i miss and i love!

One thing I have never been afraid to do is smile. I’ve had no reason to feel like i’m in no position to. Whether I have teeth or not, whether I am punctured or slowly healing, through moments/days/years of wtfamievendoing and what is this world??? This smile has been my gateway to freedom. Today marks 30yrs of me smiling and I welcome 1 million more (:

November 17, 2025, we launched our first artist residency with @photodre in Mallorca, Spain, at the @can_maribel_deia house (❤️ @bukonla & @japardmady ) Andre spent 3 weeks in Mallorca, immersed in the majestic Tramuntana Mountains. Uninterrupted. Without requests. Without expectations. Without requirements. Without noise. Without static. Without pressure. Without stimulation. He was given space. Space to engage with nature. Space to be. Feel. Exist. Rest. Connect. Decompress. Shed. Be human. This is the first of many artist residencies. It took a little over 2 years for MEKKA residency to take shape. Everything has its own timeline, process, and need for exploration. We have been conditioned to speed. Act fast. Get the project or product out! Post on social. Make money, get engagement, and go go go! Meanwhile, the process, purpose, and vision often get overlooked or neglected. That wasn’t the vibe or calling for @mekkaresidency Everything slowly marinated and ripened in accordance with the natural rhythms and flow of the seasons. I designed the MEKKA residency logo at the end of 2022. We allowed this project to speak. Gave it the space to unfold and expand as needed. Made slight adjustments. Went back to the drawing board. Listened. Talked. Wrote out each word with care and dedication. Woke up activated with ideas and let it all have the space to breathe. Truly spending time shaping, building, and feeling into what felt aligned with the mission. Thank you to 🙏🏽@loran_ajuang for all your advice and support, and to @shanita.nicholas for your legal counsel and support. Lastly, to Ian Hardman, for being in alignment and connected to the vision. We focus on providing working BIPOC artists of ALL mediums the space to rest, restore, recharge, and be. All residencies are by invitation only, globally curated with the artist at the core. If this ignites curiosity and you want to connect or support, visit our website (link in bio ☝️) **to watch the full residency video (link in bio) 📹Videographer: @kaystackss

Last year, Moja asked me to photograph his journey as he took his last ride in his late father’s car through their neighborhood. Encapsulating a very treasured and delicate memory for keepsake. An ask that I felt very honored to accept. Moments like this remind me why documentation is so important and who I can truly be of service to. Thank you again for letting me share these @mojarobinson !

i got a little scissor happy yesterday and took off some inches, now i’m looking at my fro from a week ago and the shape was fine 🙃 I be so impatient and impulsive 🙃

Last summer I wrote, directed, and edited my first short film while attending @usccinema It’s called All That I Can Say, starring @alexandrareviere 💌 Our prompt was to create a 4 minute short without synchronized dialogue to build our visual storytelling muscle. I’m gonna try not to over explain it, but I chose to tell the story of an artist who is tying to be present with herself in a space that she has created to bring her peace, but her calm night is interrupted by becoming aware of a protest that happened earlier that day and she’s left feeling very tense and frustrated about what she is seeing happening in the world, so she turns back to her canvas to express those complex feelings. I’m really proud of this being my first short, it means so much to me. Alé, thank you x1000000 for being so willing to lend yourself, your time, story, art and resources to make this happen. This was a first for us both, and it was such a great experience. DP: @hugocorch & me 1st AD/Sound: @stephenbchen Title Card: @ketutheartist Special thank you to @paolabellz for helping us out <3 It’s on youtube now, check it out!