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McKinley Martin

665

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

My name is McKinley, my friends call me Kinley. I’m the type of person who’s passionate and “all in” on the things I love to do. Art, running my face painting business, like dancing, playing guitar, and fishing. I’m starting the next step in my career, stepping into college to further my art education, and it's exciting. I’ve had great teachers in high school, and I’m ready to build on that foundation to learn new things and have new, exciting experiences. One day, I will pair my artistic talent with my entrepreneurial spirit.

Education

Rockwall High School

High School
2022 - 2026

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Fine and Studio Arts
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Arts

    • Dream career goals:

      Arts

      • MacMakesMakeup

        Painting
        Yes
        2022 – Present

      Public services

      • Volunteering

        Ridgeview Chirch — VBS lesder
        2023 – 2025
      Mad Genius Scholarship
      Winner
      The constant push and pull between technology and Nature reflects the balance between innovation and perseverance, where metal meets moss and circuits meet roots, a new harmony begins to form. Through my artwork, I am exploring the competitive struggle between technology and Nature, as well as how both elements can coexist. In my sculpture, I am using real materials from today’s technology and natural materials to represent the eco-technological conflict further. In today’s world, we have transformed vast forests into concrete jungles, grassy plains into housing developments, and natural wonders into tourist attractions. And although much of the new technology and infrastructure in today’s society has been distributed throughout the world, Nature will always find a way to overcome it. In my creative process, I incorporated two objects from opposite sides of Nature to create something new, symbolizing the ongoing clash between the natural world and human innovation. My expressive unification of technology was incorporated into the rotary phone. By stripping the phone of its wires, circuit board, buttons, and other components, I created a representation of the technological advancement that grows alongside Nature. On the natural side, I was able to blend in the environmental aspect to my sculpture by combining various pieces in an ecosystem, such as wood, moss, and grass, to merge both worlds. In the end, this sculpture stands as a reflection of the ever-evolving relationship between technology and the environment, two forces often seen as opposites, yet deeply intertwined. Through its contrasting materials and balanced forms, it reveals that progress and preservation need not conflict. Instead, they can coexist, shaping a future where innovation respects Nature’s balance. The work becomes more than a symbol of competition; it is a vision of unity, a reminder that harmony can emerge even from tension, if both worlds learn to grow together.
      McKinley Martin Student Profile | Bold.org