I created "Portals" as a bridge between ancient hand-poured colored sand techniques and the immersive technology of the abstract "Metaverse." This journey invites you to travel through time and space to the unknown.

I employed a hands-on approach to animate the original photograph of a sand painting made at Union Square in New York City. I repeatedly altered the abstract mirror effects by hand and captured hundreds of stills to bring motion to the image.

I invite you to jump through the portal and join me in bridging the two worlds in which we exist. There may be something awaiting us on the other side.

Transtemporal Sand Portals - Joe Mangrum - Sandman

I created "Portals" as a bridge between ancient hand-poured colored sand techniques and the immersive technology of the abstract "Metaverse." This journey invites you to travel through time and space to the unknown.

I employed a hands-on approach to animate the original photograph of a sand painting made at Union Square in New York City. I repeatedly altered the abstract mirror effects by hand and captured hundreds of stills to bring motion to the image. 

I invite you to jump through the portal and help bridge the two worlds in which we exist. There may be something that awaits us on the other side . 









Joe Mangrums sand paintings and multiple medium installations explore issues of the urban grid, environmentalism and its effects on the collective psyche. He has created a series of over a thousand intricate sand paintings in public and private spaces as well as a body of permanent sand paintings on canvas and carved wood. He has also  created large scale, multi-material installations in large spaces. His work is inspired by ancient traditions and synced up with a rhythm of urban free-style animation, combined with bright Pop Art colors.  His paintings are influenced by an abundant world of undersea creatures, botanicals and diverse forms of cross-cultural metaphors with a mash up of personal symbols. His technique with sand employs a graffiti like parallel of close to the ground sharp lines to a wide spray from higher up of diffused effects in alternating layers. Mangrum is based in New York City and has traveled with his work internationally.

2023 Joe Mangrum 

