Caitlin Doherty’s surreal mixed media work happens to combine two of our favorite things: vintage Polaroids and identical twins in matching outfits. Sourcing her images from a friend’s collection of photos snapped in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighborhood back in ’70s, the Canadian artist subtly tweaked the originals using collage, then painted over select surface areas, and inserted a duplicate version of the central figure. The resulting pocket-sized paintings are simultaneously charming and just a tiny bit creepy — kind of like a Flannery O’Connor short story.
“I like the idea that these paintings can be mistaken for original SX70 Polaroids at first glance, but upon closer inspection they are invented moments that never took place,” she explained to Trendland. So do we! Click through for a selection of our favorites, and visit her website for even more work from the series.
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty
Image credit: Caitlin Doherty