RIP Orien McNeill -- Artist, Adventurer and Waterman

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Orien McNeill, a 45-year-old artist known for his theatrical, water-based art, died on May 15, 2025. An impresario of New York City's DIY art community, he was recognized for using the city's waterways as his canvas, including pioneering the use of the Gowanus Canal. He was also the organizer of an annual homemade boat gathering called "The Battle for Mau Mau Island". 

Orien McNeill didn't live a long life, but he charged through a life chock-full of invention and adventure. What an extraordinary legacy. McNeill is remembered for his creative energy and for bringing people together, creating joyful and inspirational experiences for his community.

McNeill was known for his ephemeral and experiential performances on the water. He was a key figure in New York City's DIY art community and used waterways as his stage.

He was one of the first artists to live on the fetid Gowanus Canal, a Superfund site, on a 1953 Chris-Craft boat he named Meth Lab two decades ago.

He organised "The Battle for Mau Mau Island," an annual gathering of homemade boats in Jamaica Bay.

He was born on December 7, 1979, and lived on a decommissioned 52-ft ferryboat docked in a Brooklyn creek. His parents, filmmaker Ms. Van Cleve and artist Malcolm McNeill, are his only survivors. He was the godson of author William S. Burroughs.

Most tragic is that he reportedly took his own life. His obituary was published in the NY Times. So often, people smile and cheer up everyone around them. But inside a darkness lurks, a darkness that is occasionally inescapable. 



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