Through a unique fusion of brushwork and new AI technology, artist Conor Mccreedy is adding a living dimension to his hypnotic, monochromatic paintings—charting an unexplored path for this type of artistic expression, curation, and collectors. The contemporary artist and conservationist sits down with Tech Times to discuss the launch of his Liquid Gold Blue Wave Series' and a potential upcoming trip to the Moon.
In the first summer month of 1889, a rebelliously emboldened and especially stubborn Oscar Wilde penned Intentions—an audacious challenge to Victorian realism and the same ole' lame moralism du jour.
With these four controversial essays, Wilde asserted art's independence from the unimaginative and monotonous conventions of the period to declare that "No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist."
With a distinctively unique catalogue of work spanning nearly four decades, Conor Mccreedy has never seen things as they really are. His solely blue works regularly venture into unconventional places, blending the eccentric with heavy social themes that playfully push boundaries into the multisensory.
Liquid Gold Blue Wave — A New Medium Birthed from Blending Oil & AI
Aside from this most recent Liquid Gold Blue Wave Series, in which he combines a novel type of AI technology to dramatically awaken the characters he has created from the brushstrokes of his signature, internationally trademarked Mccreedyblue™ oil paint, his body of work revels in both the natural and the unimagined.
To understand Mccreedy's work, though, one must first recognize the signature blue hue that he created, which is widely known. Developed by blending five distinct blue pigments, the trademarked color serves as the cornerstone of his artistic identity and is used exclusively in every piece he creates.
"For me, blue is not just a color—it's a philosophy. It embodies tranquility, introspection, and the vastness of nature, from oceans to skies," Mccreedy explains.
Some of his unconventional Mccreedyblue™ works beyond the canvas over the past several years have included—airlifting a 700-kg painted bench to the peak of the Swiss Alps and transforming a Piega loudspeaker system into a three-dimensional sound canvas to bring awareness to climate change. While I was not present for the auditory speaker vernissage, having known Mccreedy for years, I would imagine he blasted a defiant Dire Straits guitar riff or a raucous Count Basie jazz track—dynamic and adventurous, with a touch of rebellion.
But this new series is his boldest embrace of technology yet. It is not only one of the most visually striking but also genuinely fresh in its approach, bringing new life to original and newly-created pieces through the technological personification of painted figures, expanding them from canvas to digital assets.
So collectors of McCreedy's new AI work enjoy dual ownership: the tangible aspect of a traditional oil painting and an interactive digital experience. Every transaction for the new AI artworks is secured with blockchain technology on the Orygin blockchain. Orygin, a Swiss platform, offers the world's most advanced and comprehensive digital biometric certification technology. All data is stored fully on-chain, ensuring certificates are immutable and verifying all McCreedy Studio AI artworks. This provides a verified certificate of authenticity and a high-definition chip embedded within the monitors, ensuring provenance, security, and an unprecedented fusion of art and technology.
"My work often draws from the wild beauty of nature and the unpredictable patterns of chaos theory. The new AI layer amplifies and deepens this connection, allowing my painted figures to transcend the canvas and take on new life. With this technology, I can take this narrative further, creating a multisensory experience that invites viewers to reflect and dream, noted Mccreedy."
The series demonstrates how AI is redefining the role of the artist, blending human intention with machine amplification. Through advanced algorithms, Mccreedy's painted figures seem to breathe and move, offering an immersive experience that refreshingly pushes the boundaries of traditional art.
Creating a New Realm of Curation & Value for Collectors
Aside from the superficial, the new series and medium have not only opened a fresh realm for artistic curation among enthusiasts but have also been keenly embraced by some of Mccreedy's most ardent collectors, adding new dimensions of value to their previously static oil acquisitions and introducing an unexpected, more collectible element.
For instance, one collector who purchased Mccreedy's Black Panther in 2023 has found enhanced value with the acquisition of the newly created AI living piece as well, noting—"When I first saw the animated version of my Mccreedy painting, it felt like I was witnessing a part of history—a fusion of art and technology that is both timeless and forward-thinking."
The new blended pieces/assets have brought a new dynamic to the curation and ownership experience, and for Mccreedy, the new pieces are expanding his base by appealing to both traditional and modern collectors.
From the African Savannahs & New York to the Alps & the Surface of the Moon
A conservationist at heart with nature in his blood, Mccreedy grew up immersed in the rugged landscapes of South Africa—a backdrop that has heavily shaped his artistic perspective and often recurs thematically.
And this connection has birthed some of his most genuine and successful pieces, such as his Blue Eyes Sapphirus Falco Columbarius, a 1.5-meter monochromatic work featuring the majestic peregrine falcon which garnered $420,000 at last year's Art Basel in Switzerland. A portion of the sales went to fund a range of clean water initiatives in Africa.
"The wildlife portraits at Switzerland's Art Basel, inspired by my childhood in Africa and my love for animals, draw from South Africa's vibrant colors and rich traditions to inspire emotional depth. New York's dynamic energy encourages experimentation and innovation, while Switzerland's serene landscapes offer a sense of balance and reflection, which I love in my life and my work," emoted Mccreedy.
From his towering studio, atelier, gallery, and personal residence along the Limmat River in Zurich, he creates an expansive space that features numerous spaces for exhibiting his collection and hosting events for collectors and friends. Situated within a 600-year-old building in the heart of the city's old town, he has transformed this impressive space since moving in 2014, following an extended period in New York.
Since leaving the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York to pursue a career as an artist, his work has been showcased widely across the globe, including at the National Arts Club in New York, by Sotheby's of London, The Susch Museum, Cat Street Gallery in Hong Kong and Moscow's Askeri Gallery, among others.
In looking ahead, Mccreedy's future projects remain as audacious as ever. These include plans to send one of his Blue Moon paintings to the Moon aboard a SpaceX rocket owned by his fellow countryman. Additionally, he is planning the development of a vast 45-hectare tract of land on the southernmost tip of the South African coast. This project will also encompass the creation of an immersive art residence and wildlife refuge on The Gulf Between the Mountains, situated among the region's cape leopards of the Helderberg Mountains and the killer whales of False Bay.
Like some of his previous projects, while these plans may sound outlandish to many, both Mccreedy and Oscar Wilde would most certainly disagree.
