Maggie Ellis’s paintings recall strangers that the artist notices and observes while walking around New York City. Often depicted in crowded clusters, these figures are reinvented through a rigorous drawing practice, rendered with unique color palettes, and finally revealed through multiple layers of processed abstractions. While the resulting scenes may seem ordinary at first glance, they capture odd moments of theatrical horror and comedy. Ellis’s practice is driven by an interest in the human experience—encapsulating ecstasy, fear, grief, social connection, rage, and envy. Born in Atlanta, GA, and based in New York, NY, the artist has presented solo exhibitions at Charles Moffett, NY; SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, GA; and Micki Meng, San Francisco, CA.