The project that vaulted M.J. Lindow into one of the platform's most beloved and coveted creators, Waiting in Afton, is a set of 50 artworks that represent the 50 days the artist spent between first leaving a data engineer job and his first release on fxhash. As a true icon in generative art, Afton has it all: released in the very early days (Project #215), it showcases beautiful scenes of nature, personal storylines behind each palette, broad variety within a cohesive project, and a low edition count that lets each variation shine.

Waiting in Afton #31

The color palettes of Waiting in Afton steal the show. Each iteration feels like its own self-contained world, with tones that are  earthy yet vibrant. You can imagine the wind blowing through the trees, the warmth of the sun, or the cool night air – and with them, a cascading set of emotions and memories.

Waiting in Afton #4

Every one of this project's pieces has a unique vibe, a certain emotional impact. For me, even the rolling hills dotted with trees bring a longing and nostalgia for the rural countryside I grew up in. Through these uses of color and context in a natural setting, Afton manages to bridge the gap between technology-driven generative art, and the simpler but equally deep world of the outdoors.

Waiting in Afton #15

The pervading emotion of Waiting in Afton is, of course, the waiting. It’s that feeling of being stuck between phases and turning to the fundamentals of the world around you in order to make sense of things. It’s going back to the basics to gain a grounded perspective. In combining the objective beauty of a natural woodland with the transitory nature of liminal spaces, these pieces can leave the viewer feeling both uncertain yet comforted at the same time. His tension between the unknown and the familiar drives the narrative of this incredible project executed in code – Waiting in Afton is about how we manage change within our lives.