J. Adam McGalliard is a contemporary realist artist who blends traditional oil painting with modern technology to explore identity, myths, and the divides shaping today’s society. His artwork is rich in layers, weaving personal stories with archetypes and the intricate dynamics between humanity and nature. His latest series, Erewhon, captures unreal figures in surreal settings, envisioning potential futures amid societal polarization and climatic upheaval. Previous collections, like Personas, investigate the complex expressions and roles people adopt within our changing world.

Trained by notable artists Vincent Desiderio and Steven Assael at the New York Academy of Art, McGalliard honed his unique style and perspective during his MFA in Painting. He also spent nearly four years enhancing his skills behind the scenes as an artist assistant for the globally acclaimed Jeff Koons. McGalliard was recently selected as one of five artists whose work will be featured in a collaboration between the Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon and Fashion Week San Diego and won the Enchanted Living Magazine Award in the 17th International Art Renewal Center Salon Competition.

His artworks have graced prestigious venues worldwide, including Context Art Miami, LA Art Show, Sotheby’s, and the Museo de la Ciudad de México, as well as prominent galleries like Arcadia Contemporary in New York and Stolen Space in London. Currently, he serves as Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of North Florida and continues to push the boundaries of his craft in his Jacksonville studio.