John McNamara

I investigate the relationship between painting and photography, making paintings that engage photography as a sometimes 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. "The Continuing Saga of Futility" 36" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2024

B. "Frozen" 40" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2024

C. "Yesterday and Tomorrow" 30" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2024

D. "Illusions/Reflections 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2023

E. "The Bridge between Loneliness and Solitude" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2023

F. "Eternally Present" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2023

G. “The Infinite Grind” 24” x 36” Oil/Paper/Ballpoint Pen/ Panel 2023

H. "The Core" 30" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2023

I. "People Are Strange" 24" x 30" 2023

J. "Meandering" 24" x 36" 2023

K. "Leslie" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

L. "Fear as a Conglomerative Pastiche" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

M. "The Poetics of Less is More" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

N. "Ambivalent Ideology" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

O. "Transfixed" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

P. "Encasement" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

Q. "The Performance of a Lifetime" 24" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 2022

A.
U. “This Can’t be Happening; It’s not Real.” 24” x 36” Oil/Paper/Panel. 2021

R. "Backtracking" 24" x 36" Oil/Paper/Panel 2021

S. "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

13 A "Where is Matthew Barrall?" 30" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 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

98. "The Trail of Seduction" 48" x 40" Oil/Paper/Panel 2001

99. "Untitled" - (after Richard Hamilton and Robert McHale) 23 3/4" x 23 3/4" Oil/Paper/Panel 1995

100. “Oculus" 20" x 30" Oil/Paper/Panel 1995

101. "The Clan" (an installation of 15 paintings) Oil/Paper/Panel 2004-2009 Total Area 9'1" X 15'3"

"Party Girl" 24" x 16" 2004

"Transfusion" 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004-09

"Connected" 24" x 16" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004-09

"True Love" 24" x 16" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"Suckling" 16 1/2" x 13 1/2" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"Tripping" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

"Afterlife" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004

"Target Girl" 18" x 18 1/2" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"The Changing Room" 24" x 15 1/2" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"True Lust" 12" x 11 3/4" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"Bad Dreams" 18 1/2" x 11" - 18 1/4" x 11 1/4" Oil/Paper/Panel

"Solitude" 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"Nature" 11 1/2" x 16 3/4" Oil/Paper/Panel 2008

"Cathedral" 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2004/08

102 - "Ten Moments of the 20th Century" 48" x 120" (Grouping) Each painting 24" x 24" Oil/Paper/Panel 2006

1. Bruce McCandless jet packing untethered from Challenger spacecraft, 1984

2. a solitary corpse in Sarajevo

3. Christopher Reeves filming first superman movie, 1978

4. girls wearing mini dresses, 1969

5. 1969 Woodstock Music Festival revival, mud and rain, 1996

6. Woodstock, NY, commune, 1970

7. first launch of space shuttle Columbia 1981 / Hollywood set of “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” 1965

8. Lennart Nilsson photographs inside the human womb, 4/30/65

9. petrol bombs thrown by Catholics in Belfast

10. Aloha Flight 243, fuselage rips apart at 24,000 ft., 1988

103. "Empathy" 30" x 20" Oil/Paper/Panel 2011

"The Play" 24" x 48" Oil/Paper/Panel 2012