Guenevere McMahon Entomology III — 2011 Mixed Media, Shadow Box Frame

Guenevere McMahon’s Entomology III (2011) is a striking mixed-media painting that blends the surreal with the symbolic. Known for her imaginative and introspective works, McMahon explores themes of metamorphosis and identity through dreamlike imagery. This piece features a young girl with delicate insect wings and antennae, cradling a vivid green beetle against a swirling backdrop of organic black and silver forms over a soft pink field. The composition is both tender and uncanny, reflecting McMahon’s fascination with nature’s mysteries and transformation.

Executed with meticulous detail and fine craftsmanship, the piece is signed and dated “Guenevere 2011” at lower right. It is presented in a deep shadow box frame with luxurious velvet matting, enhancing its dimensional presence and sense of narrative depth. Originally offered at $425, this is a captivating example of McMahon’s early figurative work and her evolving visual language.

Condition:

In good condition overall, showing light wear consistent with age and prior display. Colors remain vivid with no fading or surface loss observed. Frame and velvet mat are clean and well-maintained, with no significant marks or damage noted.

Dimensions:

Overall: 12 ¾ in × 12 ¾ in
Visible artwork: 9 in × 9 in

Artist Biography — Guenevere McMahon

Guenevere McMahon is an American mixed-media artist based in Las Cruces, New Mexico, recognized for her imaginative, narrative-driven works that blend fine art, fantasy, and craft. Working under the name Artful Blasphemy, McMahon creates paintings, assemblages, and textile-based pieces that explore identity, transformation, and the interplay between the natural and mythic worlds. Her art often features symbolic and surreal figures—winged girls, insects, celestial motifs—rendered with meticulous detail and layered textures.

McMahon’s background in both traditional fine arts and fiber arts informs her multidimensional approach. Her practice moves fluidly between media, incorporating drawing, painting, sewing, and assemblage to create richly tactile compositions. Influenced by mythology, science, and the quiet strangeness of childhood imagination, McMahon’s work evokes a sense of dreamlike introspection balanced with technical precision.

Active since the early 2000s, McMahon has exhibited regionally and shares her creations through her Artful Blasphemy studio and online presence. Her pieces—such as the Entomology series—invite viewers into surreal yet intimate worlds where humanity and nature intertwine. Each work reflects a fascination with metamorphosis, the feminine, and the poetic tension between beauty and unease.