Color as declaration.
Marcus McGann works in colored pencil — a medium that rewards patience and rewards the eye that slows down to look. His drawings have a radiant quality, as if the light source is somewhere inside the paper itself. The title of this exhibition, Brighter than the Sunniest Day, is not a boast. It is a description.
McGann's practice is built around figure and portraiture — a tradition he inhabits with the confidence of someone who has developed a genuine personal vocabulary. His works in this exhibition demonstrate both the intimacy of the medium and the ambition of the vision.
Brighter than the Sunniest Day was the third solo exhibition at Open Studio, following John Tursi's inaugural show and a group exhibition with Land Studio & Gallery. It established McGann as one of the most important voices in the Open Studio program.
Installation views
Marcus McGann: Brighter than the Sunniest Day · Open Studio · 127 Henry Street, New York · September 3 – October 11, 2025 · Photography available on request
Works in the exhibition
InquiryAbout Marcus McGann
Marcus McGann is a New York-based artist working primarily in colored pencil. His portraits and figurative works are characterized by a luminous quality and a sensitivity to the individual — each subject rendered with care and attention that elevates the work beyond likeness into something genuinely felt.
McGann's work was first shown at Open Studio as part of the gallery's inaugural programming, before his solo exhibition Brighter than the Sunniest Day established him as a central figure in the Open Studio program.
Collect this work.
Works from Brighter than the Sunniest Day are available for acquisition. All sales support the artist directly. For pricing and availability contact Open Studio.