For Kiki (Kinneret Magid), the driving force behind Opposite Day Studio, creativity isn’t just a hobby or a career choice—it is a lifeline. To look at her large-scale, intricate textile paintings today is to witness an artist completely in tune with her medium. However, her path to becoming the artist she is today was anything but traditional. It is a story shaped by a wild teenage streak, cross-continental moves, and a profound discovery of art as a mental sanctuary.
The Shoplisted Spark: From Trouble to Tailoring
Every artist remembers their “lightbulb” moment, but few are as dramatic as Kiki’s. As a teenager, she describes herself as “a little wild,” running with a crowd that wasn’t the best influence. One day, while browsing a store, she spotted a swimsuit she absolutely loved but couldn’t afford. In a reckless moment, she stole it—and got caught.
It was a massive wake-up call that resulted in a lot of trouble. Yet, in the midst of the fallout, as she was taking off the stolen garment, she looked at the fabric and had an epiphany: “Why am I taking this risk for this? I could just make this myself.”
That single realisation completely redirected her life. Turning away from a negative path, Kiki poured her energy into learning how to design and sew. Soon, she was running her own business creating custom swimwear, designing her own fabrics, and sourcing recycled textiles from local op-shops. Immersed in the West Coast skateboarding subculture, she began crafting clothes that perfectly mirrored that raw, effortless style. What started as a teenage misstep became the definitive turning point that unlocked her entrepreneurial and creative spirit.
Finding a New Rhythm in Perth
Life eventually brought Kiki across the globe to Perth, Western Australia, triggering the next evolution of her artistic identity. The transition was eased by a close friend studying art therapy, who began sharing her coursework and exercises with Kiki. Through this, Kiki discovered the world of painting.
“You could paint anything, and it just made it feel good,”
Kiki recalls, reflecting on the liberating, judgment-free release of the process.
During this era, Kiki found herself commuting daily on the train from Butler. To pass the time and maintain a bridge to her family back home in the United States, she began drawing cartoons. They were funny, lighthearted sketches meant to make her loved ones laugh and stay connected across thousands of miles. This period opened her eyes to the vast, fluid spectrum of art. Stepping into her early 20s, she realised being an artist didn’t mean choosing between strict realism or pure abstraction—it meant exploring the beautiful, endless avenues in between.
The Breakthrough in Textiles: Tearing and Rebuilding
Though painting and drawing sustained her, a masterclass last July completely revolutionised her workflow. While attending a Creative Craft Rendezvous, Kiki participated in a mark-making class. The exercise was radical: participants used various tools to create raw marks on materials, then deliberately tore their work to pieces, only to spend hours meticulously stitching it back together.
For Kiki, adding embroidery and watching the textures react to one another was an instant obsession. “After this, I knew I wanted to do textile painting,” she says.
Today, this deconstruction and reconstruction define her signature style. Working on a large scale, she spends hours layering over textiles. Her process is entirely tactile and organic—she can build onto a piece over several weeks, abruptly cutting parts away or stitching new textures on, allowing the artwork to breathe and change dynamically over time.
A Safe Harbour from the Noise
Beyond the striking visual presence of her large-scale textile pieces, the actual act of creating is fundamental to Kiki’s mental well-being. Art has become her second nature, an essential processing tool.
“I still get anxiety and feel down, but it’s more about the feeling of safety in the creative process,” Kiki shares openly. When life feels overwhelmingly heavy, she finds herself instinctively drawn to her creative outlets—whether writing, drawing, or losing herself in embroidery. Without it, she notes, frustration and stress settle in much faster.
For the mind behind Opposite Day Studio, creativity isn’t a battery that needs charging from the outside. Instead, it is an innate internal energy—an expansive feeling that whispers you are capable of anything. By giving herself the ultimate freedom through craft, Kiki has proven that she truly can do anything.
Supporting Kiki’s Creative Place
For Perth locals looking to experience Kiki’s captivating art in person, her latest work is now on display and available for purchase at The Artisan Store Fremantle.
However, if you ask Kiki how the community can best support her right now, her answer is deeply human: she is looking for her creative tribe.
After her best friend—and long-time crafting partner—moved to England, Kiki has found herself spending a lot of her creative time making art alone. While solitude can breed focus, she thrives on collective energy. The main thing the local community can do to help her continue her creative endeavours is to introduce her to other local creatives who want to hang out, share ideas, and make things together.
“I love making crafty friends,” Kiki shares. “I just love being around people who also want to sit and craft!”
Whether you are a fellow artist looking for a studio companion, a maker wanting to collaborate, or just someone who loves to sit and craft in good company, you can find her work in Fremantle or reach out to connect via the Opposite Day Studio social media channels.
