Wool Gatherer
By: Emily McDonald
Morin Gallery| October 2nd - November 28, 2026
Opening Reception| Friday, October 2, 2026| 5:30 - 7:30 PM
About the Artist
Born and raised in Virginia, McDonald attended Virginia Commonwealth University’s Painting and Printmaking program from 2011 to 2013 before leaving to found a studio practice in New York. While participating in exhibitions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, Emily earned a BA in Studio Art from York College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2018. McDonald went on to obtain an MFA from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in 2021. McDonald was a teaching fellow at SMFA and a visiting lecturer at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has participated in exhibitions in Virginia, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida. She currently lives and works in Virginia with her husband and small flock of sheep.
Artist Statement
“ ‘WoolGatherer’ addresses the versatility and sustainability of wool as a material, as well as the relationship it fosters among people, animals, and the land. Wool is an integral part of our history and culture, and it offers a vast array of possibilities for our future. Despite its vital nature, wool and the wool industry are overlooked. The aim of this exhibition is to celebrate the longstanding connection between humans, sheep, and the environment we share.
To spotlight this interspecies collaboration, the work centers on felted wool sculptures and is augmented by photographic and interactive installations based on my experiences as a shepherd and shearer. By honoring wool in a multitude of its many forms throughout the space and allowing visitors to touch, smell, and hear its impact, the hope is to spark joy, curiosity, and wonder at what our connection to it has done for us and where it can take us in the future.” Emily McDonald, March 2026
