James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
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.
to
1
9
7
1
1
3
6
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
9
7
5
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
11
399
222
205
102
9
9
9
9
9
Artist: James Wolanin
Retro_Pop_Female Portrait/Figurative_Acrylic_James Wolanin, Summer Love, 2024
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"Summer Love"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
36 x 36 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coated w...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Panel
Retro_Pop_Female Portrait/Figurative_Acrylic_James Wolanin, Cool In The Summer
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"Cool In The Summer"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
50 x 36 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy c...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Varnish, Panel
Retro_Pop_Female Portrait/Figurative_Acrylic/Gloss_James Wolanin, Summertime
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"Summertime"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
40 x 40 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coated wo...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Varnish, Panel
Retro_Pop_Female Portrait/Figurative_Acrylic/Gloss_James Wolanin, Valley Girl
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"Valley Girl"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
48 x 48 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coated w...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Varnish, Panel
Retro_Pop_Female Portrait/Figurative_Acrylic/Gloss_James Wolanin, Beach Duo
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"Beach Duo"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
40 x 50 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coated wor...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Panel
Retro_Pop_Portrait_Surfboard_Acrylic/Gloss_California Soul_James Wolanin, 2023
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"California Soul"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
48 x 48 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coat...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Varnish, Panel
I Dream in Color_James Wolanin_Acrylic/Gloss Varnish/Panel_Retro_Pop_Portrait
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"I Dream in Color"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
48 x 48 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coa...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Panel
The Look_James Wolanin_Acrylic/Gloss Varnish/ Round Panel_Swimmer
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"The Round"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
36 x 36 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy coated wor...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Panel
On A Winter's Day_James Wolanin_Acrylic/Gloss Varnish/Panel_Skiing_Figurative
By James Wolanin
Located in 326 N Coast Hwy. | Laguna Beach, CA
JAMES WOLANIN
"On A Winter's Day"
Acrylic & Gloss Varnish on Panel
48 x 48 inches
______________________
James Wolanin’s paintings transport the viewer to an effervescent, candy co...
Category
2010s Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Acrylic, Varnish, Panel
Related Items
A Fool
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
From Jan Matejko’s Stańczyk, 1862
I’ve heard that in centuries past, the jester – or fool – was often one of the only people able to speak truth to power. Because of their inherent ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
A Willing Ignorance
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
From John Singer Sargent’s Gassed, 1919
When considering the factors that are required (or at least helpful) for a lie to succeed, I constantly look to the audience. I constantly tr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
A Lack of Consequence
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
From Rembrandt van Rijn’s Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq (The Night Watch), 1642
Forgive and forget. That’s what we’re taught to do ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
A Reliable Pardon
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
From Nicholas Poussin’s The Death of Sapphira, circa 1652
As we invariably test the waters of lying, we quickly learn to recognize the more forgiving...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
An Allowance to Try Again
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A portrait of the Wizard from The Wizard of Oz, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939
Whenever I’ve watched The Wizard of Oz, I’ve always been struck by the same thing – that the actor who play...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
A Cautionary Tale
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A portrait of Pinocchio from Pinocchio, Disney, 1940
Are there any more recognizable stories about the difficulties that can accompany lying than that of Pinocchio? For the puppet-...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
A Weak Compromise
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A donkey, symbol of the Democratic Party
Democrats promote themselves as consistently ethical. So, when they inevitably get caught lying, the fault i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
A Counter Example
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A portrait of Abraham Lincoln
We’ve assigned a great deal of responsibility to our shared cultural figures when it comes to teaching lessons about truth, fiction, and morality. We u...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
An Exciting Unknown
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A portrait of Sasquatch (Harry from Harry and the Hendersons, Universal Pictures, 1987)
Developing almost simultaneously with my appreciation of mannequins, I fell in love with what...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
An Audience Unaware
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
From Johannes Vermeer’s A Girl Asleep, 1656-57
Learning to lie is a bit like learning how to play a game. There are strategies. There’s an opponent. It can be fun because it’s a cha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Wood Panel, Varnish, Acrylic
A Pretty Face and a Nice Body
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A portrait of Lance Armstrong
We tend to exercise differing levels of tolerance for different liars. Some people get called out immediately, while oth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
An Automated Message
By Adam Mysock
Located in New Orleans, LA
From a series of paintings by Ed Valigursky.
Our technology is staggering. We now have computers that can lie for us. For proof you only need to head over to any online comment boar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary James Wolanin Figurative Paintings
Materials
Varnish, Acrylic, Wood Panel
James Wolanin figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic James Wolanin figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by James Wolanin in acrylic paint, paint, panel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large James Wolanin figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 36 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jackie Gordon, Adolfo Ramon, and Ursula Krauss. James Wolanin figurative paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,000 and tops out at $10,500, while the average work can sell for $10,500.