Local Artist Spotlight: Macy Higgins

The Lightning are set to host their sixth annual Pride Night at AMALIE Arena Thursday night, with the NHL’s “You Can Play” initiative leading a slate of events celebrating the inclusion of everyone in the sport.

At the center of the Lightning’s numerous promotions and proceeds toward the Tampa Bay LGBTQ+ community—including a pregame performance from Tampa’s own Shevonne & The Force—is the night’s prized mystery puck helmed by artist Macy Higgins.

Higgins is a hometown maven of local art with featured works at museums throughout St. Pete. And its abstract layering of color and design makes for the Lightning Local Artist Program’s most striking puck yet.

In a new local artist spotlight, Higgins dives into the vision behind the puck design, creative expression and activism, and the tangible joy that radiates through the Tampa Bay area.

Who is Macy Higgins and how did you get here?

My name is Macy Higgins, but also commonly referred to as Macy Eats Paint, which is the handle I’ve been using for my art for nearly a decade. I am a born-and-raised Floridian. My family moved to the Tampa area when I was a toddler, so I’ve had the classic Tampian experience growing up. I’ve been active in the art community since 2016 but put my art on pause last year so I could relocate my home and studio to St. Petersburg. Now that I’ve settled in, I’m so excited to dive back into more involved projects like the Pride puck.

How did you come up with the idea for the puck design?

When I was contacted about designing the Pride puck, I was immediately inspired by the two seemingly opposing weather symbols that represent the team and the queer community. LGBTQ+ uses the rainbow as our symbol for pride and unity. Rainbows are soft and diffused, a spectrum of color. Whereas the Lightning use the lightning bolt as their symbol of pride and unity. Lightning is strong, fierce, and illuminating. When combined, they’re a spectacle of color and light, much like the Pride Night game.

What went into the creative process?

As far as the process, I did a quick sketch on a piece of paper, photographed the sketch, then used the sketch as a starter template for my digital drawing. I went through about four revisions of the same design before sending it off for review, then I did several more detailed revisions with the guidance of the Lightning Foundation. It was an exciting task to fit all the elements that I wanted into the design, but I love how much Tampa and pride really shines through in the end result.

Why are nights like the Lightning’s Pride Game important to you and to the LGBTQ+ community?

Visible and unapologetic support for the queer community is a huge part of why this night is important to me. There are so many queer youths, athletes and fans that need to know they are not only safe, but loved and accepted. I didn’t come out until my mid 20s and a lot of that had to do with the ostracization of queer people in traditionally straight spaces like sports and media. Coming out has changed my life and my art for the best, so I just really hope Pride Night reaches the hearts it needs to reach and allows everyone to have a—pun intended—really gay time!

What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome in getting your work out to this community?

I grew up knowing I wanted to make art. The hard part was figuring out how to actually make it my reality. I also have a passion for hair, makeup, and fashion. So I pursued cosmetology and have been a stylist for over a decade now, which has helped me support myself as well as network. The biggest personal hurdle for me has been managing and overcoming my chronic illness. I have fibromyalgia which affects my body daily in painful and unpredictable ways. But in the past year I’ve found ways to manage it and have been living an active lifestyle. I’m lucky to have a supportive system around me who love my art and love me even more, so ultimately for me, it’s been about finding the right mind, body, spirit balance. The other stuff like exposure, commissions and followers comes with time.

Where do you draw most of your inspiration from in creating something new?

It always depends on what the project calls for, but almost all of my art draws inspiration from nature, femininity, color or food. I find that my connection to those themes often influence and inspire me in different ways on a daily basis, so it’s an endless well of inspiration.

When you’re not creating, what are you doing?

I love hanging out at home with my cats, my boyfriend and my friends. We live walking distance from a lot of local treats in St. Pete, so we take a lot of walks and love trying new local places.

What advice might you have for aspiring local artists?

Keep making art and sharing it. It is so easy to talk yourself out of creating something, but the only person who is going to make that thing in your head is you, so just get it out there. You can decide if it’s a masterpiece later while you’re making more art. And do not forget to take care of yourself. It’s also easy to talk yourself out of self-care, but you are the Creative, so if you prioritize your physical and mental wellbeing, your heart and your art will flourish together.

Where can Tampa Bay find your work?

To support me, you can find me on Instagram where I am most active at @macyeatspaint.

I also have a newly launched website macyeatspaint.com that features a lot more of my available works and past exhibitions.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.