Explore Cultural Legacies In Kelcie McQuaid’s Groundbreaking Solo Exhibition "Lineage"

This multidisciplinary showcase is supported by the Artist Innovation Grant Award and highlights the complex and deeply interwoven themes of generational trauma, familial habits, and cultural legacies that shape our identities. This is a transformative exhibition that brings together bio-art, portraiture, fiber art, mixed media, kinetic sculptures, and video installations.

Says the artist, "My paintings are inspired by a balance of feminine energy, vulnerability, strength, and struggle. I am largely influenced by relationships from past to present and how people and relationships can evolve, dissolve or transcend. I strive to capture how perspectives change over time. As we grow and age, we see things in different contexts."

With this in mind, McQuaid uses the layering of paint, ink and other media to express her personal growth and power. Each time she picks up a brush, McQuaid revisits the paintings as a stronger person and she passes her development on to her works. Kelcie McQuaid currently works as an art conservation and restoration specialist, consultant, curator and professional artist in Fort Lauderdale Florida.

Exhibition Highlights

• “Placenta” Bio-Art Petri Dishes Featuring over 500 bio-art Petri dishes filled with household substances evocative of childhood memories. These cultivated organisms symbolize the invisible forces of inheritance and the evolving nature of familial influence.

• “Thicker Than Water” Portrait Drawings Large-scale portraits of McQuaid, her mother, and father are housed in handmade acrylic Petri dishes, incorporating bacteria and chemicals. As the exhibition progresses, the organic materials transform the portraits, reflecting the fluidity of identity and family dynamics.

• “Chemical Reaction” Abstract Art + Soundscapes Sixteen circular plexi, fiber and mixed media paintings are inspired by soundscapes created by local musicians. Each piece visualizes the emotional textures of familial acceptance, translating auditory experiences into vibrant, layered visuals.

• “When I Dreamt as a Child, I Thought of You” Kinetic Sculptures Six kinetic sculptures made from reflective textiles, vintage photo transfers, and found materials dynamically interact with their surroundings, representing the unpredictable forces within family histories.

• “NuClear Family” Soft Sculpture + Video Installation A wall-mounted soft sculpture paired with video projections of vintage family photos creates an immersive storytelling experience that blends past and present.

Why Attend?

• Witness innovative art forms, including bio-art and kinetic sculptures, that evolve over time.

• Experience collaborative soundscapes crafted by local musicians, adding depth and emotion to the visual journey.

• Reflections on your own familial legacy through themes that resonate universally.

Event Details

Venue: Bailey Contemporary Arts (BaCA), 41 Northeast 1st Street, Pompano Beach, Florida 33060

Exhibition Dates: Wednesday July 11th, 2025 – Sunday, September 14th, 2025

Opening Reception: Friday, July 18th, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Free Event Open to the Public during BaCA's regular business hours to RSVP.

Acknowledgments

Lineage is supported by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: the Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund and the Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund. This exhibition is also made possible with support from the Broward County Cultural Division.

For more information, visit: https://KelcieMcQuaid.com or contact Bailey Contemporary Arts.

More About The Artist

Kelcie McQuaid is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, consultant, and Founder of ShangriLa Collective, a South Florida-based arts network established in 2010. Born and raised in Broward County, her work and influence can be felt throughout the area, where she has spent over a decade supporting artists through events, exhibitions, public art projects, and educational programming. Her curatorial practice centers on connecting emerging and mid-career artists exploring identity and authenticity through multimedia work.

McQuaid’s own art practice blends figurative painting, fiber, sound, and bio-art with themes of emotional inheritance and transformation. Following her 2014 solo debut Universe Expanding, featuring more than 100 original works, she was named Best Emerging Artist by Broward Palm Beach New Times in 2015. Her early career was marked by creating dozens of public murals in the area and producing large group exhibitions. She was awarded an Artist Support Grant in 2024 for her Solo Exhibition "People Pleaser" and an Artist Innovation Grant in 2025 for "Lineage" Exhibition. She currently works as a professional artist, curator, arts educator, and art consultant in Fort Lauderdale.

@KelcieMcQuaid

@ShangriLaCollective

https://KelcieMcQuaid.com

Kelcie McQuaid

(954) 336-6617

About Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department

The mission of the Cultural Affairs Department, operating as Pompano Beach Arts, is to provide cultural programming that includes visual arts, digital media, music, film, theater, dance, and public art for the enjoyment and enrichment of residents and visitors to Pompano Beach, Broward County, and the greater South Florida area. The department programs and manages the City’s premiere cultural arts venues, including the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, Ali Cultural Arts Center, Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, and the Blanche Ely House Museum. The department also oversees the City’s Public Art Program and the Artists in Residence (AiR) initiative.