Richard MacDonald American, b. 1946

“A silent medium within a silent medium.” These are the words Richard MacDonald uses to describe his world-renowned Mime Series, and never are they more poignant than in this latest creation. Dedicated to the legendary Marcel Marceau, known to be one of the most famous mimes in history, Sleep Marcel Sleep captures the mime’s face in the state of blissful sleep—serene, vulnerable, and utterly human. His arms expressing the mood of sleep. Yet below that quietude, the figure’s grasping toes and bent slippers express impossible agility, balancing delicately on a sphere. The contrast of delicacy and strength, of stillness and motion, embodies the very soul of MacDonald’s work. The striking black and white patina elevates the magic. This sculpture invites the viewer to be their own storyteller, much like its evocative predecessor, Midnight. It is a powerful metaphor, open to interpretation, and destined to be a centerpiece in any collection.