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Donald MacdonaldThe Butterfly Giver - original still life surrealism painting - contemporary art2025
2025
About the Item
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
Donald Macdonald’s The Butterfly Giver is a poetic and symbolic meditation on freedom, transformation, and human connection. Set against a minimalist light background, the composition features an array of vibrant, paper-like butterflies in red, blue, and yellow, their delicate forms lifting into the air with a sense of movement and lightness. These butterflies appear to have been released from an overturned glass jar, an object rendered with striking realism, its transparency and reflections grounding the otherwise surreal scene. The jar, resting at an angle, suggests an act of liberation—an invitation to let go, to embrace change, or to share something precious with the world.
At the base of the composition, two small, white paper figures stand as quiet observers of this event. Their simple, sketched forms contrast with the vibrancy of the butterflies, evoking a sense of wonder, longing, or even hesitation. The interplay between these still, almost ghostly figures and the fluttering butterflies creates a compelling visual tension, reinforcing the theme of transition. Are they responsible for setting the butterflies free, or are they watching the transformation unfold beyond their control? This ambiguity invites the viewer to interpret the scene through their own emotional lens.
Macdonald masterfully blends realism with a dreamlike narrative, using light and shadow to enhance the illusion of depth and movement. The painting’s restrained color palette allows the butterflies to command attention, their flight path forming a graceful arc that guides the eye across the canvas. The Butterfly Giver is both playful and introspective, capturing the fleeting beauty of change and the quiet presence of those who witness it. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
Artist bio:
Donald Macdonald (born 1976, Isle of Lewis, Scotland) is a highly regarded contemporary artist known for his exceptional skill and attention to detail. After a brief period in the Scottish Infantry, he moved to Aberdeen, where he earned a BA Hons degree in Fine Art. His artistic journey took him to Denmark and Glasgow, where he lived and painted for several years, before ultimately returning to his roots on the Isle of Lewis, where he continues to live and create today.
Donald’s work has earned him recognition in various international art circles, and his paintings are held in prestigious private collections across Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel, and the USA. His career highlights include being one of only three Scottish artists featured in the BP Portrait Prize Exhibition in 2009, as well as being the subject of an in-depth feature and interview in Artists and Illustrator Magazine. Donald was also selected as the Scottish representative for the Mead Johnson International Exhibition in Evansville, USA.
In addition to these milestones, Donald has been recognized with several distinguished awards, including the 2017 Public Choice Award at the Art Gemini Prize, the 2018 Columbia Threadneedle Prize, the 2019 Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, and the 2019 Scottish Portrait Award. In 2024, he was awarded the Scottish Regional Prize at the Discerning Eye Exhibition.
Donald Macdonald’s work continues to captivate audiences worldwide, blending technical precision with an emotive depth that reflects his unique perspective on both the human condition and the environment around him.
Explore the extraordinary contemporary realism paintings by renowned artist Donald Macdonald, available for purchase exclusively at Signet Contemporary Art. These meticulously crafted still life works reflect Macdonald’s exceptional skill and unwavering dedication to capturing the world in breathtaking detail. Whether you’re looking to elevate your personal art collection or add a striking piece to your home, you can experience the beauty of these paintings from the comfort of your own space through our online gallery.
“I have always been fascinated by photorealism, even as a child I would sit for hours meticulously drawing images from encyclopaedias and copying my siblings’ school photographs, desperately trying to capture every detail to capture their likeness. It was not until studying painting at Gray’s School of Art that I really discovered expressive art and working loosely from memory, the contrast between these two very different methods of working immediately appealed and I have been studying and trying to push its boundaries ever since. I create three-dimensional scenes using sketches and folded paper that I have previously drawn from memory and place them in compositions and scenarios which are then painted. I like to use this method to convey feelings, emotions, all the while recreating and copying life’s events in some way..”- Donald Macdonald
Awards:
2017 Public Choice Award winner at the Art Gemini Prize
2018 Columbia Threadneedle Prize
2019 The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize
2019 The Scottish Portrait Award
2024 Discerning Eye Exhibition, Scottish regional Prize Winner Award\
Selected Exhibitions:
2009 BP Portrait Award Exhibition.
2013 exhibited a commissioned painting in the Imperial War Museum in Manchester.
2013, 7th Figurativas painting and sculpture exhibition, held in the European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona.
2019 Royal Scottish Academy open exhibition
2019 The Westmorland Landscape Prize Exhibition
2020 Royal Scottish Academy
2024 Royal Scottish Academy – RSA Maud Gemmell Hutchison Bequest and the Tatha Gallery Award
- Creator:Donald Macdonald
- Creation Year:2025
- Dimensions:Height: 25.99 in (66 cm)Width: 35.44 in (90 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU468316493292
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