Meet Hannah Mac | Performance Artist & Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Mac and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is a huge part of forwardness as an artist and business woman. I went through a time period of life, long story short, where I was homeless and I didn’t have a car or a job. During this season, everything felt like a cliff jump. Every day. It taught me a lot about dreams, creative endeavors, and ambition. Now, I have learned and am continuing to learn, that risk is a dance. It’s not every day going for the gold, but little chisels of showing up and putting in the work. It is all about timing, the cliff jumps at opportune moments with the right people and never how you expect. This is where decisions have to be made and the next level comes, but you’re ready for the jump because you have been showing up every day in the unseen places…. bottom line, risk taking is the dance, the knowing when to make big moves and knowing when to work it out in blood, sweat, and tears.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am first and foremost a painter. I am very passionate about color theory. How color exists in a certain space, how it can be used and manipulated to create a certain point. Secondly, I would consider myself a performance artist. Surfing, exercise, fashion, modeling, and sculpture have made me grow a deep love for the use of the body as expression. I am able to apply 2D concepts and make them come to life in 3D in real space and time. I am most excited about the color red, specifically in the context of red lipstick. The history of red and red lipstick, its uses, its textural abilities, and its powerful expression. I would say, pursuing your dreams and passions is not easy. It’s the hardest and scariest thing to believe in yourself and fight for your art. There are some small victories I have seen as an artist, but at the end of the day, I am constantly being challenged to overcome the obstacles before me. My advice, buckle up butter cup, show up, and put in the work. I want my art to light up the people around me. There is so much nasty negative shit. We gotta get that out of there. I want to inspire others to live their dreams. I want others to feel freedom from the things I get to create and share.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ok so first of all, we need to go surf! It does not matter if you have zero experience, just getting in the water in the morning is worth it. Then, coffee. The great coffee options in San Diego are (thankfully) wide and far. A good flat white or espresso is a must. I recommend Steady State Roasting Co in Carlsbad. Next, its gotta be the rose gardens in balboa park. Hiking at Mount Laguna, tucked away book stores filled with poetry and obscure paintings are also crucial. Thrift stores. Enough said. Evening time, two options…. A fabulous craft cocktail and delicious food in Little Italy or North Park. Particularly, I love Craft and Commerce and Kindred. Or… A Trader Joe’s or Farmers Market food run for supplies for a charcuterie picnic spread. The sunset at the beach as the cherry on top.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was 22 years old, my painting professor told me something that has carried me through every season of trial and success, not just as an artist, but as a human. He said to me, “You know that you have an obligation now, as an artist. You have to create art for yourself and for the world.” I thank Professor DiBella for these words that will never leave me. This simple phrase is embedded deep into my heart. When I doubt everything else, I know I have to keep showing up not just for me, but for those around me as well.

Instagram: hannahmackerz
Facebook: Hannah McConaughy
Other: hannahmcconaughy@gmail.com

Image Credits
Brands: RaisCase
Photographers: Aaron Oquendo, Adrienne Trematerra, Stefanie Keeler