Karyn Nakhleh builds her art in bold, bright color, channeling its richness into latex pieces that stand alone. Her work combines material curiosity and visual impact. Shine, stretch, and saturation are her statement making tools. She moves the subculture of latex into a broader fashion conversation, defined by bold color and tactile experimentation. Find Karyn’s work on instagram at @naughtytoucheslatex, and on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/NaughtyTouchesLatex.
Karyn, what is your favorite color, and why?
My absolute favorite colour is purple! I love purple so much because it’s rich, vibrant and very regal . . . and it has so many shades! In the past, I feel like purple was a forgotten colour, but now it’s found its moment and really seems to be getting the recognition it deserves! Did you know that there’s a word to describe someone who is a fan of the colour purple? The word is porphyrophile. Isn’t that the coolest? And purple lovers seem to find one another . . . I can’t explain it but we’re all part of the purple revolution! For me, wearing purple makes me feel powerful and that I stand out in a crowd!
DC: How does life influence your art?
Wherever I go, whatever I see, I’m always thinking of how I can make that in latex, or how something I see might look paired up with some latex elements added to it. My camera roll is full of pictures or screenshots of beautiful items I want to look at when I’m searching to be inspired for my next project. I love the challenge of being pushed to create something that may not have been attempted already.
DC: And how does color influence your life outside of your art?
Colour is a part of my everyday life. I love bright colourful shoes, clothes, and jewelry! I love glitter and crystals and shiny things. It matches my character as well, I’m bright and loud and have a big laugh. I’m not interested in blending into the crowd, I like to stand out! And with the unavoidable daily monotony that comes along with being an adult, isn’t it nice to be able to add some fun to your day with cute shoes, or colourful accessories!
DC: When choosing latex as a medium, how do you position your designs within a fashion context?
Latex is a material that has long been embraced by the alternative lifestyle crowd and it has beautiful properties that I want to share with more of a mainstream audience. It is shiny and stretchy and mysterious. It attracts attention and has really nice properties that make everyone look good! It’s really special to introduce people to latex, the reaction is so positive, people are curious to learn about this different material. While I don’t expect the general population to embrace dressing head to toe in latex, it’s so lovely to wear a piece of art on your personal canvas.
DC: As you envision the future of your art, how do your color and material choices figure into your direction?
There are so many colour options with latex! On top of the tons of amazing rich colours, it can have different properties as well. There is semi transparent, transparent, neon reactive, latex with glitter and other kinds that change depending on how the light hits it. The possibilities are really endless when you consider how to match layers of the different kinds of latex. You can even paint on latex. It can be paired with different materials to create really special looks. I would like to explore that in the future. Also, I would like to look at making latex shoes. I’m not really sure what that entails or how difficult it would be, but I’m certain it will be a challenge!
DC: If you were giving a graduation speech at an art institute, what would you say?
I would look at all of the graduating students and tell them to go out and break down any barriers they may feel are in their way. That they should just follow their hearts and have the confidence to trust in themselves. I would tell them that once, someone said to me that “art” is anything that evokes a reaction..so whatever the reaction might be, if they’re getting one, their work is a success!