Embracing Unknown
In 2005, Mac returned from Edinburgh (Scotland) and accepted a position as artist-in-residence at the Hygienic Galleries & Cooperative in New London, CT. Resident artists were required to show artwork from time to time at the Hygienic Galleries, and in several instances Mac was asked to help fill the space with new work. Embracing Unknown was created on one such occasion, and was initially titled DreamDeathLove.
Despite the unexpected and urgent need to create the piece, Mac saw it as an opportunity to experiment and explore new ways of seeing and thinking. Embracing Unknown was the largest holographic painting he had ever undertaken. The iridescent paper he used was sourced from a origami paper company in Japan, and had been sent to him in rolls. Mac spray-glued each piece to a reinforced 4 ft. x 8 ft. masonite panel, and painted a 360º abstract figural landscape inspired by Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and Death: The Time of Your Life graphic novels.
“I wanted to see what everyday people might imagine and discover in this composition,” says Mac. “The combination of holographic paper collage, graffiti-style line work, and the rich source material provided playful room for interpretation.”
The incomplete painting (unbeknownst to most) was first displayed at the Hygienic Galleries and later at a nearby coffee shop. After the holidays, Mac moved out of the Hygienic and painted was damaged in transport. For the next 20 years Mac kept it in storage, hoping to one day return to the piece and complete his original vision. That opportunity came in 2026.
The painting is currently on view at our Forever Changes Gallery, where it remains a singular and signature creative experience that is best viewed in person. Embracing Unknown is available to purchase from the gallery and our online shop.
