Brian McClear

a contemporary realist painter whose work centers on unexpected relationships between objects, language, and lived experience. Through carefully constructed still life and portraiture, he builds compositions that balance tension, nostalgia, and the interplay between fragility and force.

Working primarily in oil, McClear pairs unlikely elements to reveal formal echoes and quiet contrasts. His paintings are structured with intention and marked by restraint, often carrying measured commentary beneath their surface.

Originally from Ohio, McClear earned his BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design before relocating to New England. After years as a freelance illustrator and more than two decades developing creative and strategic work in the advertising industry, he returned to painting full-time. He now maintains an active studio practice in Connecticut.

His award-winning work has been exhibited nationally and is held in private and museum collections throughout the United States.