Dave McNally
United States
Artist and alpinist, Dave McNally has lived in the Grand Tetons for over 38 years. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he studied art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Art. In the early 80’s he moved to Jackson, Wyoming where he began a new life pursuing his passions of painting and mountaineering. He has spent his life in the outdoors with a close connection to nature, the mountain environment and the people that live there, all of which serve as the inspiration for his art.
In 1988 he was invited to join the Wyoming Centennial EVEREST EXPEDITION as expedition artist, a rare opportunity to document the trip in oil paintings. This event changed the course of Dave's life and made it possible to combine art with climbing as a way of life. Today he is a veteran of mountaineering expeditions to some of the highest peaks around the world.
Since 1978, Dave has been represented by and had numerous one-man shows in several galleries in Jackson Hole including The Wilcox Gallery, Vertical Peaks Fine Art, Mountain Trails, Horizon Fine Art and others. He has participated in shows at the C. M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, Jackson Hole Center for the Arts, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art Western Visions Miniature Show. He is also a member of the Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America and the International Guild of Realism (IGOR).
While pursuing his career as an artist, he also worked as the Ski Patrol Director at Snow King Mountain and an EXUM Mountain Guide, both in Jackson Hole. He started and operates his own Himalayan guide service, Mountain Odyssey Treks & Expeditions and for several years, was the head instructor of Rocky Mountain Martial Arts, teaching the Okinawan style Isshin Ryu karate.
Inspired to communicate the essence of the world we see and feel, Dave invites us into his beautifully rendered paintings for an intimate experience of nature in high places.
Dave makes all of his frames by hand using specialized techniques to recreate classic Dutch Black frames with gold leaf accents.
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 14th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.
