James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy-coated world inspired by vintageadvertisements, photographs, and the artist’s own personal history. The Russian Avant Garde, Cubism,Graffiti and Pop Art are all influences that can be found in the artists’ work. Identifying with Pop artists likeAndy Warhol and James Rosenquist, Wolanin taps into our culture’s collective visual conscious, creatingvibrant, stylized reflections of American life. Sunny skies, bright smiles, and carefree Sunday drivescharacterize the artist’s utopic vision, which blends a nostalgia for mid-century America with acontemporary aesthetic. He notes, “I try to bring the viewer back to a simpler time, a time of innocence.” 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 buildslayer upon layer, color upon color. Beneath their glossy, seductive surfaces, the paintings swirl withintriguing psychological substance: Wolanin does not simply paint a scene, but constructs a fragment ofnarrative. Like the best portraitists, he can suggest entire relationships and personalities through acharacter’s pose or glance. James Wolanin lives and works in New Jersey. His work has been shown in numerous solo and groupexhibitions and is part of many important collections worldwide including the permanent collection of theMichener Museum of Art and The Alex Katz foundation and The Royal Palace of Monaco.