Greenwich Art Society presents The Figure as Abstract Composition

The Greenwich Art Society proudly presents “The Figure as Abstract Composition” recent paintings by Nancy W. McFarland. 

A solo exhibition by Nancy W. McFarland from the artist’s personal collection from February 2 – February 28, 2020 at the Greenwich Art Society Gallery. “Painting is the culmination of my life of image making.  It alone is the ultimate gratification that comes from the sheer joy of directly applying soft, buttery oil paint to a beautifully textured surface in order to present new views of our common bodies’ landscapes—by coming in close to the exquisite interstices, large and small, within the surfaces of the figure; those we hardly notice, but that exist in all humans, and then to discover the magnificent geometry, design, surface texture, varying light dynamics and surprise abstract shapes.  This visual joy is what I aim to convey to the viewer of my paintings.”  according to Ms. McFarland.

Having received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute, Nancy W. McFarland continued to spend many years studying the human form throughout her long international career as an illustrator, art director and photographer.   Her artistic vision was shaped by her close proximity to the Abstract Expressionists in New York, including her studies with Jack Tworkov and James Brooks, her lengthy work with still-life composition and lighting, and the close collaboration with her husband and his parallel career in sculpture.  This all added to her artistic  imperative to create  larger-than-life figure compositions which are bold yet sensuous, highlighting the subtleties and often-overlooked nuances and negative spaces of the human form.  This is done with skilled classical rendering techniques and results in paintings that are elegant, not shy, and sometimes startling.

Nancy has recently received the 2019 Dagny Hultgreen Prize for Painting at the Greenwich Arts Society 102^nd Annual Exhibition at the Bendheim Gallery.  She works from her studio in Westport, Connecticut.

The paintings are on view Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Saturday noon – 4:00 PM. Located at 299 Greenwich Avenue 2^nd floor, Greenwich, CT

All works can be purchased by contacting the Greenwich Art society at 203-629-1533 between 9:30 am and 12:30 PM Monday through Friday or by emailing greenwichartsociety@verizon.net  please visit www.greenwichartsociety.org.