Christopher McVicar-Artist Statement & Bio

 Artist Statement

My work is a living testament to the proof of my existence. I approach art through a lens of existentialism and uncertainty, using painting to process what it means to be present, to observe, and to feel. In many ways, creating art for me comes from overthinking; focusing on identity politics and the environments that shape my growing worldview.  

    I specialize in oil painting and portraiture, with a strong focus on figurative work. I am drawn to the human figure because it brings me closer to myself and to the people around me. The subjects I choose are often those I know best but not limited to those I don’t know at all. My goal is to build bodies of work that operate as a kind of visual memoir, documenting lived experiences and emotions that feel difficult, if not impossible, to articulate through words alone. 

    My realist approach is grounded in the way I observe form, light, and color. Yet at the same time, I am equally invested in transformation. I use painting and the luminous qualities of oil paint and layered mediums to explore the complexity of human connection. Layering has become both a physical and conceptual tool in my work. Each painting is built through washes, adjustments, and revisions, mirroring how people themselves are shaped by overlapping experiences. 

    Community plays a central role in my practice. The figures I paint are not isolated; they exist within shared spaces and collective experiences, even in solo compositions. My work is a way of engaging with that. Of recognizing how individuals are tied to something larger than themselves. To me, art is about creating that connection. It’s about building a community and offering space for expression. In a way, it functions like blogs: documenting moments, thoughts, and interaction translated into a visual language. 

    My process begins with photography. I use my phone to capture scenes, which I then manipulate digitally through overlaying, distorting, and reworking compositions to create something new. Rather than simply replicating reality, I want to create my own sense of it. From there, I move into drawing and finally painting, where I take a looser, more expressive approach. Through saturated color, fluid washes, and gestural mark-making, I aim to capture not just how someone looks, but who they are. 

Ultimately, my work is about presence, connection, and leaving something behind that says: I was here. 

Bio

Christopher McVicar is a painter and graduating BFA recipient at New Jersey City University, originally from Toms River, New Jersey. Now based in Hudson County, he works primarily in oil painting and portraiture, creating figurative work that explores identity, relationships, and experience. His work is being featured in the group exhibition Intertwined at the NJCU Visual Arts Building Gallery, and he is a recipient of the NJCU Transfer Presidential Scholarship. 

McVicar’s path to art began after initially pursuing construction and earning a welding certificate before a knee injury led him back to school. He currently works as a part-time painting instructor at One River School of Art and Design in Montclair and has experience in studio assistance.