Gary McMillan constructs imaginative portals into alternate realities through his distinctive acrylic paintings on masonite panels. Based in Calgary, this contemporary artist crafts dream-like, quasi-surrealistic compositions populated by enigmatic humanoid beings who inhabit vibrant, otherworldly ecosystems where conventional logic dissolves into pure visual exploration. McMillan’s approach merges traditional painting techniques with what he describes as a “mischievous inquiry into artifice and nature”, creating fictional landscapes that simultaneously feel both utterly alien and strangely familiar. His educational foundation includes studies at the University of Calgary from 1978-1980 in applied sciences and fine art, followed by formal training at Alberta College of Art + Design from 1988 to 1991, where he graduated with Distinction in Painting and Printmaking.
The artist’s visual language centers on mysterious figures that defy easy categorization, beings whose genders and species remain deliberately ambiguous as they navigate surreal terrains filled with unusual flora and puzzling social arrangements. McMillan’s paintings function as “socio-cultural blank slates” that encourage contemplation about how humans construct hierarchies, categories, and judgments in their own societies. His palette emphasizes what he calls “shimmering jewel tones interspersed with patches of inky black, grey and snowy white”, creating dramatic contrasts that give his imagined worlds their characteristic visual intensity. According to de Montigny Contemporary, McMillan’s practice involves depicting fantastical beings engaged in bizarre activities that offer a humorous yet critical lens on contemporary societal norms, using vivid colors and surreal scenarios to reflect on the absurdity of communal existence. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across Canada and the United States, establishing him as a significant voice in contemporary surrealist painting.
More info: Instagram (h/t: Harcourt House Artist Run Centre).
