Interview with Cassidy McCauley
Cassidy McCauley (b. 1997) is an American-born, Japan-raised artist currently based in London. An emerging voice in the contemporary art scene, Cassidy’s work blends her multicultural upbringing with a vibrant exploration of fantasy and abstraction. Using acrylic paints on diverse mediums such as wood, linen, and canvas, she creates imaginative worlds filled with striking colors, surreal creatures, and dynamic forms.
In addition to her art, Cassidy facilitates workshops for sexual assault survivors, creating a safe environment for individuals to share and process their experiences. These sessions help participants communicate their trauma through indirect means, fostering understanding and emotional healing.
Let’s begin with the collection’s title Darling Demons: who are these “demons,” and how are they “darling”?
Cassidy McCauley: The title reflects the tension between vulnerability and strength that lives within survivors of trauma, particularly women who have endured sexual assault. “Demons” represent the weight of trauma, the darkness that lingers. But by calling them “darling,” we’re not diminishing their impact, we’re reclaiming them. It’s a soft, compassionate way of saying, “We see you, and we’re not afraid of you anymore.” The demons become part of the narrative, no longer enemies to battle but aspects of our experience that deserve to be held and seen with care.
In Cassidy McCauley’s film photo "A Different Kind of Demon," she is styled in a translucent blue veil and dress, adorned with bows, alongside light pink shoes. Holding and wearing eye paintings as a headdress, McCauley highlights a recurring theme in her work: eyes. These symbolize her trauma from sexual assault and the vulnerability she feels under constant scrutiny. The eyes covering her face suggest the overwhelming presence of her "inner demons." The soft, vintage-inspired hues evoke the aesthetic of early theatrical photography, as though McCauley is staging a performance. This theatricality underscores the tension between self-presentation and inner pain, blending vulnerability with artifice.
Could you speak to the material choices in Darling Demons?
Cassidy McCauley: I primarily work with repurposed materials, like well-worn, torn, or frayed canvas that’s tenderly mended. This “lived-in” feel parallels the experiences of the women I work with—stories etched into fabric, history made visible. I vary my use of gesso, sometimes covering entirely or allowing textures or glimpses of past artworks to emerge. Acrylics give immediacy to the work; you can’t really undo mistakes, so they become part of the piece, adding layers and depth. Every mark is permanent, building a raw yet profound texture that mirrors the imperfections and resilience of the healing process.
Color seems pivotal in your work. What guides your approach in Darling Demons?
Cassidy McCauley: While I often address weighty themes, I approach them with colors that feel light and pretty, almost as if wrapping trauma in icing. It makes these tough subjects more approachable, both for me and for the audience. For example, in Lilith 2023, there’s a neon orange, yellow, and pink figure of a woman framed by a serene blue arch, with monsters outlined in bright pink around the border. It depicts Lilith, the mother of monsters, keeping these demons at bay—yet they appear more like decorative figments than real threats. This approach transforms the “monsters” into something less sinister, almost playful, reflecting an internal strength and ownership.
How do you see the role of light and shadow in your work, and how do they shape the atmosphere or mood of a piece?
Cassidy McCauley: In my painting, The Other Swing, a reimagining of Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s famous work, light and shadow hold a transformative power. I contrast a deeply shadowed background with figures that emerge gradually, almost hauntingly, from the darkness, while the focal point—the woman in a pastel pink dress—seems to radiate an ethereal brightness. This layering draws the eye immediately to her, creating a sense of both mystery and serenity. To achieve this effect, I rely on mokkotsu (“boneless” technique), a Japanese painting method that emphasizes forms without hard outlines, using only layers of shading and light. By applying this technique with many layers of acrylic, I can build subtle, flowing transitions that give both figures and fabric a soft, glowing quality against the shadowed background. This interplay of dark and light shapes the mood, giving the piece an almost otherworldly presence that reflects both beauty and the depths of what remains unseen.
"The Other Swing" by Cassidy McCauley 2023 Acrylic on Canvas
"The Other Swing" by Cassidy McCauley, an acrylic on canvas, reimagines Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s famous painting, "The Swing." While the original portrayed a voyeuristic scene of a man peeking up his mistress’s skirt, McCauley's version subverts this narrative by shifting to the woman's perspective, evoking a surreal, dreamlike experience. The figures beneath her—originally men—are replaced by mythical creatures like a siren, Medusa, and the devil, symbolizing darker forces or internal struggles. The woman's wide, white eyes suggest she is entranced, reinforcing the dreamlike atmosphere and possibly representing her disconnection from reality. McCauley’s version reclaims the woman’s autonomy, transforming a scene of passive objectification into one of psychological complexity and inner turmoil.
What would you like viewers to take away from Darling Demons?
Cassidy McCauley: I hope they feel the depth of these stories, but also the strength in survival. The work is challenging, not comforting, but it does hold a sense of hope. I want viewers to see beauty in the scars, in the raw, imperfect process of healing. We’re not defined solely by trauma, but we can dress it up, make it pink, and add bows if that’s what helps us reclaim ourselves and move forward. You can’t erase the past, but you can find and hold onto the beautiful fragments within it.
Social media: @cassidymccauleyfineart
Website: https://www.cassidymccauley.com
Interview by the editor Lena Snow