Patrick McCay: A Thematic Retrospective - Explore, Exploit, Express

Patrick McCay, Writers on a New England Stage, acrylic on canvas, 42 x 32 in.

Exhibition: April 20 - August 3, 2024

Reception: Saturday, April 20th from 1 - 3 PM

The Whistler House Museum of Art (WHMA) is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, Patrick McCay: A Thematic Retrospective — Explore, Exploit, Express. The show will run from April 20 to August 3, 2024. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Parker Gallery.

Patrick McCay’s work occupies the space between the literal and abstract. Skillfully orchestrated colors pepper the expressive surfaces of chosen icons. Grounded in a scaffold of remarkable drawings and an immediacy of gestural brushstrokes, he tempts and teases with a visual theatricality, adding the dignity of the ‘unknown’ to that which is all too well ‘known.’ McCay focuses his visual explorations within the imposed contours and attentive challenge of thematic expression.

An Irish-born, Scottish/American artist, Patrick McCay holds a Bachelor’s degree and graduate qualifications in Painting from the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. He holds a second Master’s in Fine Art from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

A national and international exhibition record includes shows in London, England, Lisbon, Portugal, Sydney, Australia, and Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland. He has exhibited widely in the US including Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Arkansas, Ohio, Florida, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

His academic artistic career includes leadership and faculty positions in the UK and the US, including the College for Creative Studies in Michigan, New York School of Visual Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design, and the New Hampshire Institute of Art. He is currently a professor at the Institute of Art and Design at New England College in Henniker, NH.

Patrick McCay, Moose with Sushi Bowls, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 in.                      Patrick McCay, Positions for Piano, oil on paper, 60 x 40 in.

“It is always a pleasure for a painter to share their personal visual expressions; it is a particular pleasure to have work exhibited at the Whistler Museum of Art,” says McCay.

“The thematic focus that evolved during discussions with Executive Director Sara Bogosian provided the catalyst to place an emphasis on ‘artistic educational exchange.’ As a college faculty member for decades this has proven a very fruitful engagement for myself, New England College, and my students.”

Sharing his extensive knowledge of traditional and experimental artistic approaches with emerging artists, McCay has held academic and leadership positions internationally. McCay infuses instruction with inspiration, encouraging artists to explore their own avenues of artistic expression.

Joining McCay as part of the exhibition are several former and current students, including: David Drinon, former student and current Boston and Cape Ann painter, as well as former Artist-in-Resident at the WHMA; Suzanne Hodge, current student and Western Avenue Studio Artist; and Lucas Grondin, former BFA student at the New Hampshire Institute of Art.

“I have had the pleasure of working with the extremely talented educator and artist Patrick McCay for a number of years now," adds President and Executive Director Sara Bogosian. "From educational programs and exhibitions, to lectures and research, he has a talent that is truly creative, unique, and thought-provoking. I am thrilled to be working with Patrick on this exciting experience and know everyone will enjoy and learn from this ground-breaking exhibition.”

The works of art in this 'Thematic Retrospective' are from three dominant areas of focus McCay has explored since immersing himself in the art of wielding a brush in his native Scotland. These include common landscapes re-imaged into the fantastical, contemplative still lifes featuring typewriters, and objects far less examined, such as grand pianos. His series of expressive pianos garnered great success on their unveiling in the 1990s, with Baldwin Piano Company, Steinway & Sons, and Yamaha USA purchasing paintings for their headquarters.

Patrick McCay, Something Fishy, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 50 in.                Patrick McCay, Vermont Meets Scotland 11, oil and acrylic on canvas, 40 x 40 in.