Busy (in Marfa)
BUSY (In Marfa) is a generative reflection of urban complexity and interconnected systems. Drawing inspiration from highly detailed Marfa (Texas) scenes, BUSY applies generative techniques to build complex compositions that feel both familiar and abstract.
About the project
In 2019, James Merrill began his journey with generative algorithms and pen plotters. It all started when he came across captivating examples on the #PlotterTwitter hashtag via a Hacker News post. Artists from around the world were using machines to draw the output of code, each taking a different approach—some building DIY plotters, others restoring vintage machines from the 1980s, and many opting for Axidraws. After a few days of deliberation, Merrill decided he would purchase a plotter, but only if he could make it pay for itself by selling the resulting drawings online. Not long after, an Axidraw A3 was on its way.
James downloaded Processing and began experimenting. After a few months, he transitioned to P5.js along with the p5.js.svg plugin to generate vector graphics. By early 2020, he was deeply focused on developing an algorithm titled A Series of Tubes. The project explored multiple ink colors, intricate details, and infinite variation through randomness.
He eventually sold a limited number of these drawings on Etsy for $135 each—successfully covering the cost of his Axidraw. He also shared his work on #PlotterTwitter, which brought him to the attention of Casey Reas. Reas invited him to participate in a group exhibition on Feral File, centered around plotter art, alongside five other contemporary artists exploring the medium.
James Merril set out to challenge himself by pushing the machine to its limits. He wanted to see just how much detail and complexity he could fit into a single piece of paper. While code made this technically achievable, the true artistic challenge lay in making it visually compelling.
He felt that his earlier project, A Series of Tubes, had never reached its full potential—and he no longer felt drawn to working within its limited codebase. Rather than revisiting it directly, he decided to create a spiritual successor: a new piece that employed many of the same techniques, but extended them further. That’s when the idea for BUSY was born.
James Merril began to view BUSY less as a single artwork and more as a framework. He wondered whether it could be refactored into a system capable of mimicking specific locations. Having already built a pipeline to ingest illustrations, he asked himself: what if, instead of inventing imaginary scenes, he illustrated the landmarks of real-world places?
He recognized a delicate balance, however. James had no intention of adding iconic elements like the Eiffel Tower into the core BUSY algorithm—such an approach felt inauthentic and less compelling than his own generative creations. Still, the idea of adapting his artwork to reflect a real location and even live-plotting it on-site intrigued him. Perhaps, he thought, this could even become a way to embark on a kind of world tour as an artist—though he admitted he wasn’t entirely sure.
An opportunity arose for James to trial this idea in Marfa, Texas, during the annual Art Blocks Weekend, an event that draws artists, collectors, and curators from around the world. For one to two months leading up to the event in November 2024, he virtually explored the desolate high-desert town in western Texas through Google Street View.
James had visited Marfa once before in 2022 and already had several ideas for locations to draw. With input from locals and further research online, he built a collection of roughly 50 landmarks from around town. He captured major icons such as the water tower and town hall, along with abandoned buildings and small shops. Given Marfa’s sparse and open landscape, he also wrote custom code to generate expansive pastures and desert scenes. From this process, BUSY in Marfa was born.
James borrowed a Nextdraw pen plotter from a fellow artist in Texas and set up a temporary art studio on location. Each day, he meticulously plotted every layer of his drawings, often staying on-site until 9 or 10 PM to complete final passes in preparation for the next day. Watching the plotter at work in real life was mesmerizing, and throughout the extended weekend, attendees stopped by to witness the process firsthand. One particularly magical moment occurred when a visitor asked if they could use one of James’s artworks as inspiration for a tattoo they were getting on the spot. James agreed, and his illustration of the Marfa water tower soon became a permanent piece on the visitor’s forearm.
To capture this extraordinary moment, The Generative Art Museum (TGAM), in collaboration with the Generative Art Foundation, has acquired a unique plotter print of "Busy in Marfa." This piece marks a milestone for the generative art community, which gathers in Marfa to celebrate creativity in an unmatched setting. "Busy in Marfa" encapsulates the experience, the intricate detail, and the sense of companionship that naturally emerges during those days.
Some say, "whatever happens in Marfa stays in Marfa," but TGAM chose to defy that notion. By acquiring this work, TGAM preserves the beauty of these fleeting moments, transforming them into a timeless artwork.
Exhibited at
About James Merrill
James Merrill is a professional artist that resides in Vermont, USA. Native to digital mediums, his portfolio includes an eclectic mix of generative, 3D, and plottable art.
He presents his artwork through multiple lenses, often utilizing generative code to create static imagery, animations, physical plotter drawings, and interactive art installations. Each artwork is the result of an ongoing exploration of mathematics. His upbringing ignited a passion for breaking barriers by using visuals to self-educate himself on fundamental mathematic concepts.
James' work has been displayed internationally, with installations from Times Square to The Netherlands. He has been curated online in exhibitions with Artblocks, Unit London, Highlight and Feral File.
