James Wolanin

I Dream in Color_James Wolanin_Acrylic/Gloss Varnish/Panel_Retro_Pop_Portrait

2023

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