Kayla Massey is a Milwaukee based photographer, using both analog and digital techniques, to explore subject matters in her art varying from the personal, the taboo, and the political. A Wisconsin native, born and raised, Massey grew up in several small towns before moving to Milwaukee where she has lived, and grown to love, for over two decades. Massey received her BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and her MFA from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM).
Massey has used photography to explore personal illness, with a cancer diagnosis at 21 years old, which lead to further interest in explore the unspoken nature of death in the United States. While at UWM she grew her interests in women and genders studies, which became central to her art practice, exploring topics such as sexual assault and rape. This area of study dominates her voice and future projects