“Artist Statement: Christopher McVicar- Questions and Narratives" 

As a painter working primarily in oils, my practice is shaped by a deep interest in social realism and the shifting boundaries of truth in contemporary culture. I am drawn to work that confronts difficult realities and exposes the fractures within our shared social landscape. These influences guide me toward creating art that not only reflects the world as it is, but also questions how narratives are shaped, distorted, or ignored. 

At the core of my artistic approach is a commitment to addressing social issues with honesty and vulnerability. I aim to illuminate humanity often overshadowed by political rhetoric, using visual forms to encourage reflection rather than argument. My work seeks to bridge the gap between lived experience and public discourse, offering viewers a space to consider the emotional and human consequences behind statistics and headlines. 

My current project, an art intervention on gun violence, continues this pursuit. Through symbolic imagery and public placement, the work challenges the normalization of weapons in recreational and cultural spaces. While the specific visual components vary, the intention remains constant: to disrupt familiar environments, provoke empathy, and refocus attention on the lives affected. Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to glorify the good in humanity by calling attention to the injustices that threaten it, inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationship to truth, compassion, and social responsibility.