Statement + Bio
Emily McDonald is a multidisciplinary artist, shepherd and shearer living in Virginia. Working with wool, botanical inks and dyes she creates assemblages investigating the visual language formed from the mingling of historical, ecological and personal connections.
Born and raised in Virginia, McDonald attended Virginia Commonwealth University's Painting and Printmaking program from 2011-2013 before leaving to found a studio practice in New York. While participating in exhibitions in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens Emily earned a BA in Studio Art from York College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2018. McDonald went on to obtain an MFA from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 2021. McDonald was a teaching fellow at SMFA and a visiting lecturer at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has participated in exhibitions in Virginia, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida. She currently lives and works in Virginia with her husband and small flock of sheep.
