Marcia Odle McNair

ARTIST
AUTHOR
EDUCATOR

Gallery

Artist Statement

Marcia Odle McNair’s art reflects a long interest in the interactions of color, overlapping geometric shapes, aspects of nature, and transparency. She has combined elements of color theory and movement through the layering of shapes, with the application of dramatic brush strokes to create a unique presentation in an abstract format. In her work, there are bold contrasting colors that are juxtaposed with subtle muted colors and challenge the viewer to take time to view the patterns that emerge within the work.

Abstract geometric artwork with swirling colors of red, blue, purple, yellow, and turquoise.

“Abstraction is the creative link between the origins of African design, color theory and modernism in the artwork that is created today.”

Abstract geometric painting with large purple, blue, gray, and yellow shapes intersecting on a canvas.
A wall with paint designed in geometric patterns consisting of various pastel colors in a triangular arrangement.
Colorful geometric paper art with pink and blue painted triangular shapes on a black background.
Abstract artwork with geometric shapes and vibrant colors including red, orange, blue, and pink, with textured patterns and lines.
Colorful abstract painting with overlapping geometric shapes in red, yellow, blue, and purple hues.
Abstract black, white, and gray geometric shapes and brushstrokes.

  • Marcia Odle-McNair (b. 1956) was born in Brooklyn, New York. Odle-McNair began her formal training in Fine Arts as a teenager at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. She attended Hunter College (CUNY) where she received BFA (1979), and MFA (1984) degrees in painting with honors. Odle-McNair is a multifaceted artist, author and educator. For over four decades she has exhibited her paintings and mixed media artwork. She also held numerous and teaching positions. Marcia Odle-McNair is the author of “Kwanzaa Crafts, Gifts and Decorations for a Meaningful and Festive Celebration” (1998). In addition to exhibiting her artwork, she has curated exhibitions and organized workshops. Odle-McNair is currently on the Board of Directors for Westbury Arts Gallery in New York.

  • Babylon Arts Council, NY (2023)

    Absolute Abstraction, Paula Barr Gallery, NY (2014)

    Danny Simmons Corridor Gallery, NY (2009)

    Hunter College, (CUNY)

    MFA Exhibit (1984)

    BFA Exhibit (1979)

  • Westbury Arts Gallery - Fifty-Five Years of Black Creativity, Works on Paper (2024); What’s New, Mixed Media, Inspiration in Red, My Momma Told Me (2023); Black History Exhibition, Emotions of Color (2022)

    Babylon Counsel for the Arts Juried Exhibition (2022 – Award Winner, 2023 – Award Winner)

    Manhasset Library – Favorites (2024), Then and Now (2023)

    Long Island Arts Counsel – Here and Now (2023 – 2024)

    Long Island Black Artist Association – Fifty-Fives Years of Black Creativity, Westbury Arts Gallery, Nassau County Supreme Court Black History Exhibit (2024), Of Colors Art Space, Patchogue, NY, Molloy University, Manhasset Library, Plainview/Old Bethpage Library (2023)

    Teacher as an Artist, Lincoln Center Gallery, NY (2000)

    Entitled: Black Women Artists – Wilmer Jennings Gallery, NY (19960, Cinque Gallery, NY, Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture (1998)

    Coast to Coast Women Artists of Color – Artist Book Project – Diverse Works Gallery for Women’s Caucus for Art National Conference, Houston, TX, The College of Wooster Art Museum, Wooster, OH (1988), Depauw University Art Museum, Greencastle, IN, The Center for Book Arts, NY (1989), The University of Michigan Art Museum, MI, The Radford University Flossie Martin Gallery, Radford, VA, The Eubie Blake Center and Baltimore Museum, Baltimore, MD, Artemisia, Gallery, Chicago, IL, The Jamaica Arts Center, NY (1990)

    Hunter College/Times Square Gallery Graduate Invitational Exhibit, NY (1982), Hunter College Gallery, Color Sensation Movement (1978)

  • NYFA – Residency and Exhibition – Voices and Vessels, Franklin Street Gallery, NY (1984)

  • Fifty-Fives Years of Black Creativity, presenting the artwork of the Long Island Black Artist Association, Westbury Arts Gallery (2024)

    Art and Literacy – Introducing African American Art and Artists to Youngsters (2024)

    Handmade Artists Book Workshops (1988 – 1990)

    Kwanzaa Family Workshops (1988 – present)

Press

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