"Long Meetings in Short Spaces" ⁠(mixed media, 2008) Collage

John Beck McConnico is a painter, photographer, creative director, and watchmaker who lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he has lived in California since 1993. He works in a variety of mediums, including paint, collage, digital media, and assemblage. His artwork is included in both international and international collections. Being inspired by urban and rural architectural structures, his mixed media artwork reflects the industrial fabric that makes up our current landscape. It is this balance between Past/Future and Manufactured/Rustic that informs his current work. ARTIST STATEMENT: "I never set out to be a Surrealist. The phantasmagoric quality of my latest work manifested itself organically, evolving from representational streetscapes & architecture to a more dreamlike and otherworldly state. From a process standpoint, I operate freeform in the execution of each piece—starting with gestural sketches, applying digital techniques, and then transitioning to a true mixed media format. The outcome are objects that are slightly ambiguous in both medium and subject matter. The conversation with my subject matter has also changed over time, in which I’ve allowed myself to let the scene and structure inform the journey along the way. Akin to how the Abstract Expressionists let the paint speak to them during the process of mark-making, I allow my subjects and stories to unfold during the creation process. It’s just my job to listen. Perhaps these industrial characters are fueled by their own aspirations as well? Therein lies the state of Wishful Structures."