John McNamara Matters of Fact
Gallery NAGA
By: NAGA - Nov 11, 2026
Gallery NAGA is pleased to announce Matters of Fact, a solo exhibition of new works by Joseph McNamara, running from November 2, 2026, through January 23, 2027, at 67 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, November 21, from 1 to 3 pm. The reception is free and open to the public.
In this recent series of oil paintings, McNamara maintains his devotion to the industrial. While his subject matter has gradually shifted over the course of his career, McNamara’s industrial landscapes and depictions of machinery make up much of his recent work. Industrial yards, agricultural equipment, and scrap-metal ruins dominate Matters of Fact, documenting the reality of American industry. The Berkeley Pit, McNamara’s largest painting of the exhibition, depicts the former copper mine in its current state: a relic of America’s industrial past, now a contaminated wasteland. Rather than editorializing the scene, McNamara presents direct evidence, allowing the subject to document itself. At its core, Matters of Fact carries no hidden agenda other than observing and capturing reality.
As a dedicated realist, McNamara’s formal precision in Matters of Fact imposes order on otherwise busy or disorganized imagery. The exhibition foregrounds technical virtuosity, showcasing McNamara’s ability to turn dilapidated scenes— like rusty machinery or an old road station— into still, intelligible landscapes. When discussing how he represents his subject matter, McNamara says, “I choose to work with subject matter that carries iconic power and prefer the mystery I perceive to remain undisturbed.” The exhibition therefore relies on McNamara’s dry realism to leave the gravity of each subject intact.
Often constructing his work from photographs and using a grid to build his compositions, McNamara does not aim to impose any interpretation besides what is strictly visible. The ambition of Matters of Fact is therefore as straightforward as its title suggests. “The immediate impact of my observations has always been the objective,” McNamara notes, “I paint these things because I want to see how they’ll look painted.”
Concurrently with Matters of Fact, the Back Room will feature the annual Holiday “Smalls.” Going on its 13th year, the salon-style exhibition features pieces under 12 by 9 inches in the spirit of holiday gift giving. Participating artists range from Gallery NAGA’s represented artists to other local favorites.