Taryn McMahon (b.1984)
Shadows, 2019
Commissioned by Summa Health
Materials: Digital ceramic frit on three glass panels, 72" x 86 5/8" overall
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), Blue Neighborhood, Ground Floor, Hallway Partition Outside Conference Center
About the Art
These striking glass panels by Taryn McMahon offer an immersive botanical experience, drawing inspiration from the natural world while integrating cutting-edge printing technology. Two of the images originate from digital photographs McMahon took of plant materials in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, while the central panel began as a print that was then digitally scanned for this project. The translucent quality of the glass allows natural light to filter through, subtly illuminating the intricate organic forms and casting ever-changing shadows that animate the space.
Designed for a highly trafficked hospital corridor, the panels serve as both an architectural boundary and a source of visual comfort. To achieve the necessary scale and durability for a healthcare setting, McMahon collaborated with architects and glass installation specialists, ensuring that the final work maintains both its aesthetic integrity and hygienic resilience. The ceramic frit printing process, in which ceramic pigments are fused into the glass, was specifically chosen for its durability and ability to withstand frequent cleaning.
About the Artist
McMahon’s artistic practice frequently explores the interplay between nature and technology, often magnifying plant forms beyond their expected scale to encourage deeper engagement. Her past works have included immersive installations using Mylar and other transparent materials, transforming entire rooms into environments of suspended botanical imagery. She describes her work as envisioning “a future ecology in which technology and reality collapse into each other, where the natural and the man-made become intertwined and indistinguishable in the face of unprecedented ecological change.”
For this commission, McMahon chose a blue palette reminiscent of cyanotype prints, an early photographic technique that used light-sensitive paper to capture botanical forms. This historical reference connects her work to the legacy of Anna Atkins (1799–1891), a pioneering photographer who used cyanotypes to document plant life. While cyanotype-inspired imagery has been revisited by contemporary artists, McMahon may be the first to apply this aesthetic to architectural-scale glass printing, seamlessly integrating historical process with modern materials.
Where You Can See More of This Artist’s Work
McMahon is a professor of printmaking at Kent State University’s School of Art. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania State University and both a Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. She has also studied in Florence, Italy, and at the Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, New York.
Her work has been featured in exhibitions across the United States and Europe, including site-specific installations in Portland, Oregon, and Lexington, Kentucky. She has received numerous awards and artist residencies, such as at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado, and 55 Limited in Berlin. Additionally, she has curated exhibitions and written about printmaking and contemporary artistic practices. Her work is held in collections across Ohio, New York, Texas, Colorado, Iowa, and Iceland. Visit her website to learn more.