Eric McRay: Contemporary Modernist

McRay received a BFA at the Maryland Institute, College of Art, where he earned a four-year scholarship for his artistic talent. A native of Washington, D.C., McRay moved to North Carolina and has been exhibiting since 1987. In November 1998, he was juried into Raleigh's prestigious Artspace. Since opening his Artspace studio in downtown Raleigh, McRay has served in the offices of Vice-President and President of the Artspace Artists Association, as well as served on Artspace's Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

McRay's artistic career has been featured on TV and radio programs, and in numerous newspapers, magazines, and websites. The Raleigh News and Observer named him one of the "Artists to Watch". Numerous times he has been listed among the "Best Local Artist" and "Favorite Local Artist". McRay has received feature articles in Fortune Small Business, Art Business News, Our State Magazine, and Southern Living Magazine.

Some of his collectors include the SAS institute, American Tobacco Campus, Nothern Carolina Central University Art Museum, Duke University Medical Center, Duke Health Raleigh Hospital, NC State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Western Wake Hospital, as well as many private collectors locally, nationally, and internationally.

McRay's Guiding Principle is that an artist's style is his visual language by which he communicates. Thus, Eric McRay is multilingual, with influences from the 1860s and through the 1960s. Openness and exploration rather than a dedication to a particular style best characterize his work. "I believe there is no single correct pictorial solution," says McRay.

Eric McRay: Contemporary Modernist will be on display in Gallery I from January 27-March 4.

Learn more about the latest work from Eric McRay: