John McNamara

I investigate the relationship between painting and photography, making paintings that engage photography as a somewhat overt, but mostly painted element. Since the photography literally exists beneath the painting’s surface, there is a strange conceptual ambiguity, relational to the frozen moment of a person, place, or thing that lie underneath the interpretive nature of the painting process on top. Collage has a "time machine" aspect, which I mine to establish lines of conceptual meaning. The content of my work focuses on conceptions of transcendence, moments in popular culture, and sharable life realities. I consider my paintings to be open, investigative narratives. My hope is to provoke a sense of curiosity within the viewer, similar to the curiosity I feel when making a painting. I strive to make a painting that has visual and perceptual engagement.

A. "Time Enough at Last" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

1. "Fabrication of an Illusion" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

2. "Painters of the Past 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020

3. "The Scale of Expectation: The Value of Intent" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020

4. "Velvet Underground" 30" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

5. "The Gift of Consciousness: The Challenge to Negotiate Meaning "30" X 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020

6. Echoes of Remnants" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

7. "The Obsession to Feel 24"x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2020

8. “The Unforeseen and the Inevitable” 24” x 36” 2020

9. Minimalism's Maximalism 36" x 48" oil/paper/panel 2018

10. "Lost" 48" x 36" o/p/p 2018

11. "Unreal" 30" x 60" o/p/p 2018

12. "Kingdom" 40" x 60" o/p/p 2018

13. "Cycle" 30" x 40" o/p/p 2017

14. "Deep" 30" x 90" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

15. "The Idolatry of Longevity" 36" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

16. "Surveillance"40" x 30" Oil/Paper/Paint 2017

17. "Fake" 24" x 36" o/p/p. 2020

18. "Whittling Down" 36" x 48" Oil/P/P 2020

19. "The Gift" 36" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

` 20. "Optimism's Promise” 36" x 48" O/P/P 2019

21. “Monsters” 36” x 48” Oil/Paper/Panel 2019

22. "Secular Sanctuary" 48 x 72 inches, oil/paper/panel 2019

23. "Five of All" 24" x 36" Oil/P/Panel 2020

24. "Integrated Polarities" 30" x 40" o/p/p 2018

25. "Glimmer" 36" x 48" o/Paper/panel 2019

26. "Utilitarian Abstraction's Rebirth" 48" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2019

27. "Encroachment" 48" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

28. "Worlds" 30" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

29. "Memory" 36" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

30. "Compressed" 40" x 60" Oil/Paper/Panel 2017

31. "Century" 40" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018

32. Faceoff "30" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2017

33. “5.18.2016" 60" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2016

34. “Possibilities” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2014

35. “Anticipation is Greater than Realization” 42” x 60” Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

36.“Apex” 30” x 20” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

36A. "Apollonian Apex" 60" x 44" Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

37. “White on Color” 48” x 60” 2011/12

38. “Climbing” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

39. “The Conservator” 24” x 48” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

40. “The Art World” 24” x 18” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

41. "Moment" 48” x 40” Oil/Paper/Panel 2015  

42. “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained” 9” x 12” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

43. " The Loss of Memory/The Inability to Forget " 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2019

44. “Utilitarian Abstraction” 30” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

45. The Conspiracy” 20” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

46. “Running” 24” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

47. “Battle” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2010

48. “Unreal” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

49. “The Suitors” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

50. "The Showoff and the Introvert" 48" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

51. "Beauty and the Beast” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

52. “Wow” 36” x 48” Oil/Paper/Panel 2015

53. “Safety” 24” x 20” Oil/Paper/Panel 2009

54. “Wise Ass” 20” x 30” Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

55. “Exit 18 – Vigil for Jay DeFeo” 30” x 20” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

56. “Monday” 20” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2012

57. “Bridges and Plumbing” 48” x 60” Oil/Paper/Panel 2013-14

58. "Anthroland" 48" x 40' Oil/Paper/Panel 1998

59. "The Rigor of Facade" 36" x 80" Oil/Paper/Panel 2009

60. "Let's Twist Again Like We Did Last Summer" 48" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 1999

61. "Seduced Again" 45" x 80" Oil/Paper/Panel 2005

62. "Death Valley" 12" x 12" Oil/Paper/Panel 2013

63. "Transcendence" 44" x 36" Oil/Paper/ Panel 1998

64. “Flux” Oil/Paper/Panel 12” x 32” 2013 

65. "Larry's Place" 48" x 60" Oil/Paper/Panel 2006

66. "High Stakes” 40" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2003

67. "Queen of the Feminists" 48" x 60" Oil/Paper/Panel 2007

68.. "Philosophy" 40" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2001

69. "Fifty Times the Area" 30" x 47" Oil/Paper/Panel 1996

70. “The Collapse of Pretense” 48 x 80 in. (diptych) oil, paper on panel 2002

71. "Real Light" 40" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2001

72. "The Inextricable Hold" 40" x 48" oil/paper/on panel 2001

73. "Just Visiting" 24" x 20" Oil/Paper/Panel 2009

74. ”Solitude” 48” x 65” Oil/Paper/Panel 2007

75. “J.W.X.W” 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2018/19

76. "Breakdown" 48" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 1998

77. “Tripping” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2010

78. “The Encounter” 18” x 24” Oil/Paper/Panel 2010

79. “Collapse” 48” x 40” oil/paper/panel 2001

80. "Stay in Tonight" 17" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 1995

81. "Series of Fifteen Paintings/ 2004/Shown in Studio"

82. "SPEED AND COMPRESSION" 24"X48" OIL/Paper/Panel 2003

83. "SECOND MORTGAGE" 24"X48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

84. "Intersection" 24" X 48" Oil/Panel/Panel 2004

85. "Seduced" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

86. "Asleep at the Wheel" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

87. "Gaming" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

88. "It's What's Under the Hood That Counts" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

89. "The Inextricable Hold" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

90. "THE LONG SHOT" 24"X48" OIL/PANEL 2004

91. "The New Sculpture" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

92. "Echo" 24"x48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

93. "Duped" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

94. "Unreal" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

95. "Leveled" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

96. "Lights Out" 42"x48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2006

97. “Where the First Kiss Leads” Oil/Paper/Panel 48” x 40” 1999