Campbell McLean
35 Wareham Street, Studio 5
USEA Website Bio & Artwork Info: Campbell McLean (They/She) is a Boston native who explores the diverse facets of queer life through paint. Her alternative perspective challenges common perceptions of contemporary queerness by delving into the essence of her own experiences. Campbell has received recognition for her artistic prowess, including the Stephen D. Paine Scholarship (2021) and the George Nick Award (2022). Her evocative portraits have been featured in local exhibitions, such as Alpha Gallery's "New Talent" (2022) and Abigail Ogilvy's "Fresh Faces" (2023).
Prolifically, she produces saturated images of cartoonish queers going about their days. From breakfast, to work, to leather dances, to promiscuous photoshoots, all scenes are inspired by real, local, queer happenings, that are reconstructed on the canvas with no reference but her own memory.
This painting through memory is achieved by painting on canvas that's been primed black, via thin layers of varying colors, which allows paintings, like memories, to emerge quickly, seemingly illuminated, out of the dark. These memories are made vague enough for the viewer to project their own experiences onto.
Ultimately, Campbell is part caricature artist and part fine artist, using tongue-in-cheek humor to spark thought-provoking discussions about the intersection of queer expectations and heteronormative activities. Her unapologetic cartoonish approach acts as a catalyst for viewers to reevaluate preconceived notions and embrace a more authentic perspective that is rooted in the experiences of the queer community.
