A photo from a performance. The framing is wide. The artist kneels on a bed sheet. Behind them is a projection of the room—but it's tilted and shows the projection, so it therefore spirals in, smaller and smaller, in a mise en abyme. In front of the artist on the bed sheet is a helium tank, clear latex balloons, and black thread. The artist is dressed all in black, save for a red silk scarf thrown over their left shoulder. They are in the process of filling up the balloons with helium and tying them to a needle-filled necklace around their neck.
A photo from a performance. The artist kneels on a bed sheet. In a closeup of their hands, they are in the process of tying a black string to a clear latex balloon. The balloon bulges, and less-full balloons hover before the artist. On the bed sheet are rows of black strings, unfilled balloons, and a red helium tank. The artist wears all black, except for a red silk scarf on their left shoulder.
A photo from a performance. The artist kneels on a bed sheet. In a closeup, the artist is tying a black thread necklace to their neck. The necklace is full of needles. The artist looks distraught, or not fully aware.
A photo from a performance. In a wide shot, the artist kneels on a bed sheet. A spray of balloons floats up from their neck, where they are tied to a necklace full of needles.
A photo from a performance. The artist kneels on a bed sheet. Behind them is a projection of the room—but it's tilted and shows the projection, so it therefore spirals in, smaller and smaller, in a mise en abyme. The artist is dressed all in black, save for a red silk scarf thrown over their left shoulder. They are in the process of filling up the balloons with helium and tying them to a needle-filled necklace around their neck. One of the clear latex balloons floats up in front of their face, partially obscuring it.
Kitty F Davies is an artist, dirt-worker, and professor based in the USA. Read more >

CV

Work

Desertification After Bouguereau
Series, drawings

When I’m This Close
Painting

THE BODY IS ON
Sculpture, installation

Death Ensues
Sculpture, installation

Executrix
Drawing, installation

objet petit aaaaaaaaa
Sculpture, installation

Maximum Black
Series, collage

Portal Drawings
Series, drawings/performance

Telling the Future Through a Portal
Performance

same4same
Sculpture, collaboration

accumulation: homologue
Performance

Not Because I Need You to Know
Coming soon | Series, drawings

accumulation: focet [sic]
Performance, sound

Spot the Difference
Sculpture

FilthyDirty
Coming soon | Series, paintings

lovefight
Coming soon | Series, drawings

fridge drawings
Coming soon | Series, drawings

Exhibitions

Desertification After Bouguereau
2026, McLean County Arts Center

Telling the Future Through a Portal
2025, University Galleries

THE BODY IS ON
2025, University Galleries

a cut ting / inci sion
2023, Julian Gallery

Curatorial

Student Work

—

accumulation: focet [sic]

2023

Performance and soundscape; 15 minutes.

About

After receiving EMDR therapy in 2018 for the rape I experienced in 2007, I became interested in the physiological responses to capital-T traumatic events. This work includes a soundscape based on heartbeat/breathing patterns found in people experiencing PTSD flashbacks and a performance in which I attached progressively filled balloons to a necklace full of pins and needles.