The velvet houR 2.14.2026
~ VELVET HOUR ~
South Carolina’s most dynamic artistic duo, Johni Bleu and abstract artist and poet Maggie Macdonald, return with new bodies of work that explore intimacy, presence, and emotional gravity. Bleu draws from the tradition of the Old Masters, using light, form, and the human figure to create work that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary. Macdonald’s abstract paintings and poetic sensibility offer a complementary counterpoint rooted in movement, color, and emotion.
jOHNI bLEU
"Garden of Bliss"
"Stealing Glances"
"Stealing Glances"
48" x 60" Oil on Canvas
Beneath The Surface Series
2025
"Stealing Glances"
"Stealing Glances"
"Stealing Glances"
30" x 40" Mixed Media on Canvas
Beneath The Surface Series
2025
"Smoking Cherry"
"Stealing Glances"
"My Sister's Keeper"
30" x 40" Oil on Canvas
Beneath The Surface Series
2025
"My Sister's Keeper"
"My Sister's Keeper"
"My Sister's Keeper"
48" x 60" Oil on Canvas
Beneath The Surface Series
2025
"Marked Emotions"
"My Sister's Keeper"
"Cloak and Dagger"
24" x 24" Oil on Canvas
Beneath The Surface Series
2025
"Cloak and Dagger"
"My Sister's Keeper"
"Cloak and Dagger"
30" x 40" Oil on Canvas
Beneath The Surface Series
2025
"Winged Things"
30" x 40" Oil on Canvas
Surface Tension Series
Standard Print Options Now Available
"Salt & Silk"
48" x 60" Oil on Canvas
Surface Tension Series
Standard Print Options Now Available
"A Moments Breath"
"A Moments Breath"
30" x 40" Oil on Canvas
In Bloom Series
Standard Print Options Now Available
"Surface Tension"
"Surface Tension" captures the profound desire we all have to present ourselves to the world in an ideal manner. Its symbolism represents the journey of self-discovery, as we gradually uncover our true selves and acknowledge the person hidden beneath the facade.
Standard Print Options Now Available
"And Still, I Rise"
"And Still, I Rise" encapsulates the essence of resilience and grace. A delicate butterfly gracefully perched on the nose serves as a guiding beacon, embodying unwavering faith in the future. Simultaneously, the presence of another butterfly trailing behind signifies a profound gratitude towards the experiences of our past that have propelled us forward.
Standard Print Options Now Available
"Birds of Praise"
"Birds of Praise" centers around the potency of language. The doves featured in the painting serve as a symbol of the significance of speaking from a position of tranquility and understanding. Conversely, the hand encircling the neck signifies society's persistent desire to control and regulate our personal truths.
Standard Print Options Now Available
Spartanburg Art Museum 2024
"Body of Proof"
Bleu's version of Peter Paul Rubens’“The Descent from the Cross” (1612)
This oil on panel painting titled "Body of Proof" measures 52" x 96" including the hand made frame.
SOLD
Featured in the Spartanburg Art Museum 2024
Johni Bleu and Maggie Macdonald present The Velvet Hour, a collection of new works examining intimacy, tension, and lasting connection. The evening is free and open to the public, featuring live music and light refreshments.
FEBRUARY 14, 2026
🤍