Zurich-based painter Conor Mccreedy merges brushwork, AI and a new type of proprietary illumination technology to bring alive his magnetic Mccreedyblue™ paintings with two new distinct tech-enabled collections—The Liquid Gold Blue Wave & Monumental Mountains Collections
With the 1991 release of Ten, Pearl Jam, an unknown group of Seattle misfit-geniuses, dropped one of the most iconic rock albums ever compiled and ignited the rebellious grunge rock golden age of the 1990s. Three of Ten’s standout tracks, Alive, Even Flow and Jeremy, propelled the record to Platinum status thirteen times over and solidified both the band and the album’s masterful legacy that endures today.
Nearly 35 years after Ten’s launch, Alive and Jeremy serve as the perfect tracks to frame rebellious South African artist Conor Mccreedy’s two newest tech-enabled collections. Known by many in the art world as the King of Blue, Mccreedy’s new collections highlight the fusion of his raw talent with innovative, experientially engaging technology.
Liquid Gold Blue Wave Collection— Synthesizing AI & Oil Paint
Queuing Pearl Jam’s Alive, Mccreedy’s new Liquid Gold Blue Wave Series integrates a pioneering type of novel AI technology, bringing alive the characters he’s created from the brushstrokes of his hallmark Mccreedyblue™ oil paint. Mccreedy’s new series breathes life into both original and newly-created pieces by expanding the painted figures from canvas to digital assets.
Video above: The newly created Liquid Gold Blue Wave (2024) AI piece from Mccreedy’s Ballerina Series.
“The new AI layer allows my painted figures to transcend the canvas and take on new life. With this technology, I can create a multisensory experience for collectors that invites viewers to reflect and dream,” noted Mccreedy.
Collectors of Mccreedy’s creations receive both a physical painting and an immersive digital counterpart. All of these works are verified through Orygin, a Swiss blockchain system offering secure, biometric-based certification. So by keeping records decentralized and permanent, the platform ensures the authenticity of every piece. Additionally, embedded chips add another layer of security, further merging art with modern technology in a cutting-edge fashion.
Monumental Mountains Collection—Bringing Light to the Mountaintops
“At home drawing pictures of mountain tops with him on top,” opens Vetter in the first chorus of Jeremy. Mccreedy is not only drawing pictures of mountains but also illuminating them with his new Monumental Mountains Collection. The new collection which debuted at Art Basel 2024 features patented lighting technology, which he has developed and obtained the exclusive rights to. A decade in the making, this collection is inspired by the iconic peaks of the Swiss Alps and reflects Mccreedy’s personal connection to the region, having lived in Switzerland for nearly a decade.
The Monumental Mountains collection integrates aluminum and titanium frames with embedded LED lights, allowing viewers to adjust lighting and enhance the depth of Mccreedy’s abstract brushstrokes. his unconventional approach enhances the viewing experience and transforms each piece into an engaging exploration of nature and technology.
The Mccreedyblue™ brushstrokes dramatically shift to a brilliant gold, reminiscent of a mountaintop at dawn, where the first light cuts through the darkness, revealing a striking transformation. The bold contrast of light and color creates a dynamic duality, making the work feel like two pieces in one.
In looking ahead past these two new collections, Mccreedy’s pipeline projects are even more bold and daring, and include sending his alluring Blue Moon painting to the surface of the Moon aboard his fellow countryman Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket, and the development of a massive wildlife artist refuge (currently underway) on the southernmost coast of South Africa.
In quoting lyrics from Pearl Jam’s Even Flow (Mccreedy’s favorite song from the album), Eddie Vedder belts, “Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies. Oh he don’t know, so he chases them away.” Although for Mccreedy he doesn’t just chase the thoughts away, he continues to bring them to life with new artistic realms that push boundaries.