BIO: Maggie Macdonald is a mixed media painter and poet whose evocative works are known for their vast, color-soaked fields on raw canvas and linen. A graduate of Converse University with a degree in Studio Art (2018), Maggie’s artistic practice is deeply inspired by the movement of the ocean and the subtle complexities of human interaction. Her work blends visual storytelling with poetic and literary elements, creating immersive pieces that explore the human experience and reflect her ever-evolving reality.

Maggie’s professional journey was catapulted by the success of her 2022 solo exhibition, "Note to Tomorrow", at the Grand Bohemian Gallery. This pivotal show helped launch her gallery career and established her representation not only in Greenville, South Carolina, but also in major cities like Dallas and Chicago. In addition to her gallery exhibitions, her work has been featured in TOWN Carolina, Herald Journal, and In Her Studio Magazine, and is held in the private collection of the Castellani Family.

Maggie spends her time writing, painting, and occasionally creating murals while traveling, constantly exploring new facets of her practice. She currently resides in the Upstate of South Carolina, where she dedicates herself to her studio work—building and stretching canvases while continually pushing the boundaries of her craft.

ARTIST STATEMENT: My abstract and literary works are the physical manifestation of emotion, a resting place for thoughts and inquiries on the day-to-day. The work I create is about hope and aesthetic beauty. It’s about processing the current realities of life and transforming emotion into powerful imagery. My art celebrates literature and pushes my poetic pursuits. It’s about choosing to create beauty in a world often filled with darkness, combating the sorrows of daily life, and pushing myself to create new from the old.

In many ways, what I create offers comfort and a pause for me as a human woman, desperate to contribute something of value to an ever-changing landscape. The inclusion of text in my work, both legible and illegible, serves to deepen the connection not only between myself and the work but also between each piece and the viewer. There is a story behind each poem or literary inclusion, often sparked or inspired by the realities of my present tense.

It is not uncommon for me, as the viewer, to find myself delighted and in awe of the newness brought forth from humble elements such as paints, inks, pastels, raw linen, and canvas. I create these works not only because I feel I have something to say, but more often than not, I find that these works turn out to be exactly what I need to see.