Into the Woods x Izayjah McKinney exhibition September 1 - 25, 2026

McKinney is a quiet Artist who works at the intersection of the mental, physical, and spiritual by combining illustrative surrealism with the organic textures of nature.

Humankind’s return to nature is his ultimate inspiration and is a critical component of his expression. “Mundanity is insanity,” Izayjah notes. Standard, pre-packaged lives aren’t built for the racing minds of people. Instead, he learns by watching the shift of clouds, observing sunsets, and living with the thrill of not knowing what the next mark will bring.

While he began working with oil on canvas in 2018, everything clicked in 2021 when he switched his surface to raw wood. He became hooked on the medium, learning to read the wood grain, visualizing the natural imperfections, and letting the knots and rings guide his pens and paint. “Let the hand move around. Do it. Don’t get caught up in the product. You already know what to do—just do it.” he says about how he approaches his creative process.

In 2022, his first complete body of work, Into the Woods, was born. This marked a creative transition to drawing and painting onto wood rounds, usually redwood. His process is intuitive, taking in the lines, grooves, and colors of the wood as he looks for deviations in natural patterns.

The very first piece, Little Door, opened into a universe of Illustrative Surrealism. A fantastical place full of intricate, hybrid and fantastical figures reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights—where humans, animals, plants, and fantastical creatures merge into single forms. His work bridges diverse influences: the vivid, kinetic energy of 80s/90s anime like Akira, Robot Carnival, and Memories, alongside comic book iconographies, and his own futuristic robot spacemen that move between scenes. Izayjah integrates natural symbolism throughout his work. Eyes peer out at the viewer, representing awareness and several recurring motifs explore rebirth, cycles of light, and the quiet patience of nature.