James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coated world inspired by vintage advertisements, photographs, and the artist’s own childhood memories. Identifying with Pop artists like Andy Warhol and James Rosenquist, Wolanin taps into our culture’s collective visual conscious, creating vibrant, stylized reflections of American life. Sunny skies, bright smiles, and carefree Sunday drives characterize the artist’s utopic vision, which blends a nostalgia for mid-century america with a contemporary aesthetic. He notes, “I try to bring the viewer back to a time of innocence.”

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Wolanin’s background as a designer is evident in his dynamic compositions, fizzing color combinations, and bold use of graphic text. He forms each painting through an innovative stenciling technique that builds layer upon layer, color upon color, and concludes with a coating of surfboard resin – a fitting medium for images that capture the jubilant atmosphere of 1960’s beach culture. Beneath their glossy, seductive surfaces, the paintings swirl with intriguing psychological substance: Wolanin does not simply paint a scene, but constructs a fragment of narrative. Like the best portraitists, he can suggest entire relationships and personalities through a character’s pose or glance.

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James Wolanin lives and works in New Jersey. His work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions and is part of many important collections including a recent purchase by the Alex Katz Foundation.

 

EDUCATION

Du Cret School of Art, Plainfield, NJ, graduate cum laude, 1999
School of Visual Arts, New York City

 

GRANTS

Artist in Residence, Artist Grant, Vermont Studio Center,
Johnson, Vermont, January 2009
Artist in Residence, School of Visual Arts, New York City, Summer 2006

 

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

Alex Katz Foundation

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2016   “A Summer Song”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena, CA

2015   “The New Romantics”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena, CA
2014   “All That Glitters”, Campton Gallery, New York City
2013   “Recent Paintings”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena, CA
2013   “Vintage Pop“ Campton Gallery, New York City
2012   “On The Road”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011   “Recent Paintings”, Campton Gallery, New York City
2010   “Recent Paintings”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009   New Paintings, Museum Works Galleries, Santa fe, NM
2009   New & Recent Works, Museum Works Galleries, Aspen, CO
2008   “Snow Bunnies”, Museum Works Galleries, Aspen, CO
2007   “Stewardess Paintings”, Museum Works Galleries, Aspen, CO
2001   MTV Showcase Artist, MTV Times Square studios, NYC
2000   “Celebration of the Feast”, Swain’s Gallery, Plainfield, NJ

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017    Rarity Gallery, Mykonos

2016   “Context Art Miami”, Miami, FL

2016   “Group Show”, Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

2016   “Summer Group Show”, Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece

2016   ''Context Art NY”, New York City

2016   ''Group Show”, Forre Fine Art, Aspen, CO

2015   “Context Art Miami”, Miami, FL
2015   “Art Silicon Valley”, Silicon Valley, CA
2014   “Context Art Miami”, Miami, FL
2013   “Palm Springs Fine Art Fair”, Palm Springs, CA. Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2011   “Houston Art Fair”, Houston, Texas, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2011   “Art Aspen”, Aspen, Colorado, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2011   “Art Hamptons”, Bridgehampton, NY, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2011   “Los Angeles Art Show”, Los Angeles, California, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2010   “Art Miami”, Miami, Florida, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2010   “Art Aspen”, Aspen, Colorado, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2010   “Art Hamptons”, Bridgehampton, NY, Caldwell Snyder Gallery
2009   “Recent Paintings”, Campton Gallery, New York City
2009   “Group Show”, HW Gallery, Naples, Florida
2008   “Bridge Art Fair”, Art Basel, Miami, FL, Museum Works Galleries
2008   “Group Show”, Red Dot Gallery, Palm Springs, CA
2008   Art Expo, Las Vegas, NV
2008   “New Works”, Museum Works Gallery, Aspen, CO
2007   Go Go Gallery, Miami, FL
2006   “Girls, Girls, Girls”, Go Go Gallery, Miami, FL
2006   “Bridge Art Fair”, Art Basel, Miami FL., Museum Works Galleries
2006   “Recent Works”, Chapterhouse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Three Person Show
2005   “Metal Pig”, Orchard Street Gallery, New York City, Group Show
2005   “Metal Pig”, Gomi Gallery, Austin Texas
2004   “Urban-Act #2”, Studio 14, Rome, Italy 2004 “Urban-Act #1”, Studio 14, Rome, Italy
2004   “The Interventionists”, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, MA
2004   1300 Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio
1999   Swain’s Gallery, Plainfield, NJ
1999   NCJW Focus on Art, Montclair, Van Vleck House and Gardens
1999   “Divine Inspiration”, Agora Gallery, SOHO, New York City
1998   “Hallelujah”, Ceres Gallery, SOHO, New York City
1998   SOHO International Art Competition, Agora Gallery, SOHO, New York City
1999   Swain’s Gallery, Plainfield, NJ
1999   NCJW Focus on Art, Montclair, Van Vleck House and Gardens
1999   “Divine Inspiration”, Agora Gallery, SOHO, New York City
1998   “Hallelujah”, Ceres Gallery, SOHO, New York City
1998   SOHO International Art Competition, Agora Gallery, SOHO, New York City

 

PUBLICATIONS

2015   “American Art Collector Magazine”, April issue, “New Romantics” show preview
2013   “Vintage Pop” Retrospective Artist Book, Caldwell Snyder Press