Kaya Cassir the Ghost-Assassin, Magic: The Gathering
Wizards of the Coast made their 30th anniversary a special one, creating an immersive convention experience in Las Vegas for their Magic 30 event in late 2022. In addition to the World Championship finals, competitive MTG play areas, cosplay contests, and vendors galore, there were a handful of Magic character sculptures created for this event (as well as continuing Magic 30 conventions throughout 2023!)
Drawing inspiration from Kaya’s MTG card art showcasing her phase-shifting abilities, 3D models were created taking feedback from the same artists at Wizards of the Coast who created these characters for MTG. Kaya was designed as an installation sculpture and is mounted in a cantilevered position, emerging from the wall behind her. Our sculpt of the back wall and stone floor segment for Kaya hides a weighted steel frame that keeps her aloft in mid-jump. Kaya herself has an aluminum welded internal structure and fiberglass-reinforced SLA printed body components to keep the hanging weight as low as possible. Skin and leather effects use textured paint for a realistic finish, while polished areas for items like her boots and hard leather armor add depth to our sculpture. We even made sure Kaya’s hair flows with her jump!
Electronics running through the sculpture illuminate Kaya’s eyes, daggers, and the portal through which she’s emerging from her wall. While very bright in photos, the eyes are sculpted in such a way that follow the viewer as they walk by!
