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Selected Works

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Conductor  27" x 41"  Oil On Board

Conductor

27" x 41"

Oil On Board

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Dinner Party  38" x 58"  Oil On Canvas

Dinner Party

38" x 58"

Oil On Canvas

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Off The Balcony (Front Yard)  In Collaboration with his Daughter, Jessica Stewart Popovitch  74" x 88"  Oil On Canvas

Off The Balcony (Front Yard)

In Collaboration with his Daughter, Jessica Stewart Popovitch

74" x 88"

Oil On Canvas

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Jazz Band Practice  18" x 35"  Oil On Board

Jazz Band Practice

18" x 35"

Oil On Board

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Violin Concerto  30" x 66"  Oil On Board

Violin Concerto

30" x 66"

Oil On Board

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Piano Concerto  12" x 34"  Oil On Board

Piano Concerto

12" x 34"

Oil On Board

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Quartet  20.75" x 24.5"  Oil On Canvas

Quartet

20.75" x 24.5"

Oil On Canvas

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Soloist Itzhak  16" x 17"  Oil On Canvas

Soloist Itzhak

16" x 17"

Oil On Canvas

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String Section  24" x 25"  Oil On Canvas

String Section

24" x 25"

Oil On Canvas

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West Philly Backyard I  32" x 53.5"  Oil On Canvas

West Philly Backyard I

32" x 53.5"

Oil On Canvas

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West Philly Backyard II  34" x 57.5"  Oil On Canvas

West Philly Backyard II (SOLD)

34" x 57.5"

Oil On Canvas

 

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Family Refuge  58" x 58"  Oil On Canvas

Family Refuge 

58" x 58"

Oil On Canvas

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Flying Over The Countryside  46" x 44"  Oil On Canvas

Flying Over The Countryside (SOLD)

46" x 44"

Oil On Canvas

 

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In The Audience  13" x 23"  Oil On Canvas

In The Audience

13" x 23"

Oil On Canvas

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Of Weddings Before The War  47" x 62"  Oil On Canvas

Of Weddings Before The War 

47" x 62"

Oil On Canvas

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Overture Study #1  30" x 22"  Pastel

Overture, Study #1

30" x 22"

Pastel On Paper

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Overture Study #2  30" x 22"  Pastel

Overture, Study #2

30" x 22"

Pastel On Paper

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Overture Study #3  30" x 22"  Pastel

Overture, Study #3

30" x 22"

Pastel On Paper

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Overture Study #4  14" x 22"  Pencil On Paper

Overture, Study #4

14" x 22"

Pencil On Paper

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Overture Study #5  14" x 22"  Pencil On Paper

Overture, Study #5

14" x 22"

Pencil On Paper

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Red Chair  22" x 14"  Oil On Canvas

Red Chair

22" x 14"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal  21" x 35"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal

21" x 35"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal II  24" x 33"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal II

24" x 33"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal III  24" x 34"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal III

24" x 34"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal III Study #1  18" x 24"  Pastel

Rehearsal III, Study #1

18" x 24"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal III Study #2  18" x 24"  Pastel

Rehearsal III, Study #2

18" x 24"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal III, Study #3  18" x 24"  Pastel On Paper

Rehearsal III, Study #3

18" x 24"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal V, 34" x 32"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal V

34" x 32"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal V, Study #1  20" x 20"  Pencil On Paper

Rehearsal V, Study #1

20" x 20"

Pencil On Paper

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Rehearsal VI, Study #1  12" x 8"  Pastel

Rehearsal VI, Study #1

12" x 8"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal VI, Study #2  12" x 8"  Pastel

Rehearsal VI, Study #2

12" x 8"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal VI, Study #3  12" x 8"  Pastel

Rehearsal VI, Study #3

12" x 8"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal VII, Study #1, 12" x 8"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal VII, Study #1

12" x 8"

Oil On Canvas

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Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #1  20" x 12"  Charcoal

Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #1 

20" x 12"

Charcoal On Paper

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Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #2  24" x 16"  Ink

Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #2

24" x 16"

Ink On Paper

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Tap Tap  49" x 16" x 5"  Wood

Tap Tap

49" x 16" x 5"

Wood

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The Children Are Watching  35" x 22"  Ink And Pastel On Paper

The Children Are Watching

35" x 22"

Ink And Pastel On Paper

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Wife's Dress  31" x 14"  Oil On Canvas

Wife's Dress

31" x 14"

Oil On Canvas

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With Whom Can You Sit In Water II  34" x 40"  Oil On Canvas

With Whom Can You Sit In Water II

34" x 40"

Oil On Canvas

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Conductor  27" x 41"  Oil On Board

Conductor

27" x 41"

Oil On Board

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Dinner Party  38" x 58"  Oil On Canvas

Dinner Party

38" x 58"

Oil On Canvas

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Off The Balcony (Front Yard)  In Collaboration with his Daughter, Jessica Stewart Popovitch  74" x 88"  Oil On Canvas

Off The Balcony (Front Yard)

In Collaboration with his Daughter, Jessica Stewart Popovitch

74" x 88"

Oil On Canvas

Shop

Jazz Band Practice  18" x 35"  Oil On Board

Jazz Band Practice

18" x 35"

Oil On Board

Shop

Violin Concerto  30" x 66"  Oil On Board

Violin Concerto

30" x 66"

Oil On Board

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Piano Concerto  12" x 34"  Oil On Board

Piano Concerto

12" x 34"

Oil On Board

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Quartet  20.75" x 24.5"  Oil On Canvas

Quartet

20.75" x 24.5"

Oil On Canvas

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Soloist Itzhak  16" x 17"  Oil On Canvas

Soloist Itzhak

16" x 17"

Oil On Canvas

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String Section  24" x 25"  Oil On Canvas

String Section

24" x 25"

Oil On Canvas

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West Philly Backyard I  32" x 53.5"  Oil On Canvas

West Philly Backyard I

32" x 53.5"

Oil On Canvas

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West Philly Backyard II  34" x 57.5"  Oil On Canvas

West Philly Backyard II (SOLD)

34" x 57.5"

Oil On Canvas

 

Family Refuge  58" x 58"  Oil On Canvas

Family Refuge 

58" x 58"

Oil On Canvas

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Flying Over The Countryside  46" x 44"  Oil On Canvas

Flying Over The Countryside (SOLD)

46" x 44"

Oil On Canvas

 

In The Audience  13" x 23"  Oil On Canvas

In The Audience

13" x 23"

Oil On Canvas

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Of Weddings Before The War  47" x 62"  Oil On Canvas

Of Weddings Before The War 

47" x 62"

Oil On Canvas

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Overture Study #1  30" x 22"  Pastel

Overture, Study #1

30" x 22"

Pastel On Paper

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Overture Study #2  30" x 22"  Pastel

Overture, Study #2

30" x 22"

Pastel On Paper

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Overture Study #3  30" x 22"  Pastel

Overture, Study #3

30" x 22"

Pastel On Paper

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Overture Study #4  14" x 22"  Pencil On Paper

Overture, Study #4

14" x 22"

Pencil On Paper

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Overture Study #5  14" x 22"  Pencil On Paper

Overture, Study #5

14" x 22"

Pencil On Paper

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Red Chair  22" x 14"  Oil On Canvas

Red Chair

22" x 14"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal  21" x 35"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal

21" x 35"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal II  24" x 33"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal II

24" x 33"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal III  24" x 34"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal III

24" x 34"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal III Study #1  18" x 24"  Pastel

Rehearsal III, Study #1

18" x 24"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal III Study #2  18" x 24"  Pastel

Rehearsal III, Study #2

18" x 24"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal III, Study #3  18" x 24"  Pastel On Paper

Rehearsal III, Study #3

18" x 24"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal V, 34" x 32"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal V

34" x 32"

Oil On Canvas

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Rehearsal V, Study #1  20" x 20"  Pencil On Paper

Rehearsal V, Study #1

20" x 20"

Pencil On Paper

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Rehearsal VI, Study #1  12" x 8"  Pastel

Rehearsal VI, Study #1

12" x 8"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal VI, Study #2  12" x 8"  Pastel

Rehearsal VI, Study #2

12" x 8"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal VI, Study #3  12" x 8"  Pastel

Rehearsal VI, Study #3

12" x 8"

Pastel On Paper

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Rehearsal VII, Study #1, 12" x 8"  Oil On Canvas

Rehearsal VII, Study #1

12" x 8"

Oil On Canvas

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Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #1  20" x 12"  Charcoal

Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #1 

20" x 12"

Charcoal On Paper

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Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #2  24" x 16"  Ink

Something Of The Sky In Us, Study #2

24" x 16"

Ink On Paper

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Tap Tap  49" x 16" x 5"  Wood

Tap Tap

49" x 16" x 5"

Wood

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The Children Are Watching  35" x 22"  Ink And Pastel On Paper

The Children Are Watching

35" x 22"

Ink And Pastel On Paper

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Wife's Dress  31" x 14"  Oil On Canvas

Wife's Dress

31" x 14"

Oil On Canvas

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With Whom Can You Sit In Water II  34" x 40"  Oil On Canvas

With Whom Can You Sit In Water II

34" x 40"

Oil On Canvas

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"I prefer to make a fool of myself, which I find to be alarmingly easy when I am alone. It makes painting an obvious choice."

- James Stewart

James Stewart - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Overture (Detail), 30" x 22", Oil On Canvas

Deaf Republic Series 


"This group of work comes about from the influence of a book of poems by Ilya Kaminsky called ‘Deaf Republic’. The poems are about living in an occupied city and the unrest that ensues. In the poems, we follow a young, newly married couple with their newborn and a rebellious woman with a puppet theater.

For several years I had been using Weimar, Germany as a time period in my paintings, and when this book of poems came along it allowed me to explore more specific moments or events pulled from Ilya’s narrative. 

Although I’ve illustrated the poems in Ilya's book with drawings, I feel that the paintings reflect an 'overall feel' of aspects of the poems, and posess an independent sense of their own."

James Stewart - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Rehearsal II, 24" x 33", Oil On Canvas

Brundibar Series


"This work seems to be an extension of the ‘Deaf Republic’ work. The story line has no tie but there was nevertheless a feeling of connection in the studio.

Brundibar is the name of a children’s opera, written by Hans Krasa and performed at Theresienstadt, a hybrid concentration camp and ghetto established by the SS during World War II that was known for its relatively rich cultural life, including concerts, lectures, and clandestine education for children.

With Degas’ influence, I was trying to imagine the childrens' rehearsals and backstage activities."

James Stewart - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

She Flies Over The Country, 32" x 54", Oil On Canvas

Stewart has been painting full time since leaving school in 1992. He has had solo exhibitions with Gross McCleaf, Gallery 71, Swarthmore College, Washington County Museum of Art, Carspecken-Scott Gallery, Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, and The Butler Museum of American Art.

After attending the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts he was awarded a travel prize allowing him to travel and study in Europe. In 2007 he was awarded a Guggenheim that again allowed travel and study in Europe. In 2009 he was awarded the Ballinglen Fellowship which allowed travel and work in Ireland where he has returned to work. Stewart lives and works in Western Pennsylvania. 

James Stewart - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Weddings Before The War (Deaf Republic Series), 47" x 62", Oil On Canvas

"I don’t find I am necessarily gifted, but I will give myself credit for being tenacious."

- James Stewart 

Video

Over the past decade, James Stewart has made paintings about Republics that have failed or were crushed. One subject was Germany’s Weimar Republic, which fell to the Nazis. Thornton spoke with James by phone about a gigantic 60 by 94-inch painting that he has just finished. It is called, "January 6th, We Are Tearing Ourselves Apart.”

 

At Gross McCleaf Gallery, artist James Stewart is showing paintings, drawings, and sculptures that were inspired by poet Ilya Kaminsky's "Deaf Republic". James talks to me about narrative art and the types of visual expression possible when reacting to great poetry.