Blair McNamara is a painter, a photographer, a musician and a surfer. From a very young age Blair McNamara began making drawings and paintings on anything he could find including bits of broken fibro or old wardrobe doors. He grew up on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, enjoying the waves, the sunshine and the beach-friendly lifestyle.
The ocean is his arena of meaning. His art has been represented by local and international galleries for many years and is highly respected and awarded as a unique, contemporary translation of Australian beach culture.
As a strong component of the Queensland visual arts scene, he skillfully and appropriately captures much of the cultural and environmental conundrums that have developed over the years in this vulnerable Sunshine Coast paradise. His unique ability to speak clearly and directly to a wide audience, not necessarily all conversant with the visual arts, enriches our community.
As a visual artist, his career includes gallery paintings, local, international and touring exhibitions, residencies, public tutorials and numerous public art commissions. Many of Blair’s most significant paintings, photographs and murals are in corporate, private and public collections including city councils, universities, schools, public hospitals, airports and hotels.
In his studio he will often produce a series of work at a time, spanning the gamut of both his traditional training and creative freedom. Concepts of shoreline, play of light, fascination with the grid, layering of surfaces, inherent histories and cultural diversity all inspire.
“Living with a close connection to nature taught me to pursue what I enjoy and to bring that energy to what I do in my Art. Making art remains the most important thing to do before eating or sleeping. Sometimes, I forget to take a breath while I’m painting.”
