Hello beautiful bizarre friends and welcome to Issue 53 with Kayla Mahaffey’s powerful painting Rekindle on the cover. To me this work speaks of a deliberate return to an inner fire that sustains her. The lit match isn’t reckless; it feels intentional – lighting the match reactivates something already alive within her. The explosive warmth in her hair and the lush, blooming surroundings suggest that this energy is generative, not destructive, feeding creativity, identity, and profound growth. Her calm, self-possessed expression reinforces that this isn’t a hasty impulse but a conscious choice to nurture what makes her feel most alive, even if it’s intense.
You can get your copy of this special issue in print here, and digital download here. Or read more about whats in this issue here.
Enjoy our Editor-in-Chief’s Note from the Editor, published in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Issue 53
Have you made the intentional choice to rekindle a part of your psyche that has been lost because of trauma, the relentless labour of daily life, or simply the exhaustion of adulting? This process isn’t always clean, it comes with mess and consequence. Yet, the decision to bring a piece of yourself back – a dormant creativity, a forgotten passion, or even a risky path – fully aware of what it might ignite, is an act of incredible bravery. Do you tend to play it safe, or take the risks that lead to real change?
“The decision to bring a piece of yourself back – a dormant creativity, a forgotten passion, or even a risky path – fully aware of what it might ignite, is an act of incredible bravery.”
By the time you’re reading this, our first exhibition of 2026, Return to Beauty, will have just come to a close at Outré Gallery in Melbourne, Australia. If you didn’t get the chance to see it in person, you can still explore the full show online through the gallery’s website. There were many contemporary icons who contributed truly inspiring work to this special exhibition in my home country – it’s well worth a look!
I was able to attend the opening reception which reinforced a core truth: the irreplaceable necessity of experiencing artwork in person. While the work looks beautiful online, every single piece was exponentially better when viewed live. Nothing compares to seeing the brushstrokes, the tiny details, the true scale, and the dimensionality of a work in reality.
It was also wonderful catching up with many of the participating local artists; being surrounded by such creativity is a truly special experience. Engaging with art and artists feeds something vital within me and reinvigorates my passion for my job. A huge thanks goes to the Outré Gallery team and all the artists for creating such special work for this exhibition.
“Engaging with art and artists feeds something vital within me and reinvigorates my passion for my job.”
Beautiful Bizarre Curated Exhibition: Glimmer at Modern Eden Gallery
Our second exhibition of the year, Glimmer, will open in November at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco. This show will include the winners of the 2026 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize!
So until next time, I hope you enjoy reading this inspiring issue, and as always thank you for your support of our independent magazine! We couldn’t do it without you.
Much Love xo
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
