Nathaniel Mary Quinn

Nathaniel Mary Quinn constructs collage-like composite portraits that delve into the intricate relationship between visual memory and perception. Drawing from a diverse archive of online sources, fashion magazines, and family photographs, he assembles hybrid faces and figures. These works are at once neo-Dada in their fragmented construction and adamantly realist in their evocative power, creating an intimate and intense encounter with the viewer.

Quinn's artistic journey began on Chicago's South Side, where a scholarship led him to Culver Academies. A profound personal loss — the sudden death of his mother, followed by the abandonment of his childhood home by his father and brothers — deeply impacted his practice. This jarring experience fueled his commitment to art and education, leading him to add his mother’s name, Mary, to his own as a lasting tribute.

After earning his MFA from NYU and settling in Brooklyn, Quinn had a pivotal breakthrough in 2013. Faced with an imminent exhibition and one work short, he improvised, painting a blurred memory by piecing together subconscious fragments. The resulting image revealed the distinct mouth of his brother Charles, solidifying the unique, deeply personal technique that has since defined his acclaimed body of work.