Fungarium
Tracie MacVean
21 AUG–7 SEPT

Fungarium is a solo exhibition by Tracie MacVean, inspired by the profound beauty and diversity of the fungal kingdom. This fascination emerged following a life-changing event in 2022, after which Tracie turned to nature as a place of healing and reflection. As a naturalist, she became captivated by the complexity and mystery of fungi, particularly the challenge of identifying the many species she encountered. What began as quiet curiosity soon became a deep and consuming obsession.

In 2023, this passion naturally evolved into painting mushrooms, coinciding with Tracie’s hands-on cultivation of gourmet and medicinal fungi. Her practice bridges art and science, reflecting both a desire to observe and document and a deeper sense of wonder toward these often-overlooked organisms. She is also a passionate advocate for citizen science, contributing to the ecological understanding of fungal species and their environments.

Fungarium is more than botanical study. It reveals the surreal, almost mystical nature of fungi. These organisms live largely underground, hidden from view, with mycelial networks that connect ecosystems in unseen ways. Their fruiting bodies emerge only under the right conditions, like fleeting glimpses of a secret world. This sense of hidden magic echoes themes in Tracie’s earlier work and marks a natural progression in both her art and life.