"James Litaker" Opening Reception

Acclaimed painter James Litaker (b. 1953) returns to his native city with a new solo exhibition at Pictor Gallery in Chelsea’s Landmark Arts Building—his first New York solo show since the 1990s. A Harlem native and School of Visual Arts graduate, Litaker has built a distinguished career chronicling the people and places that shape American life. His richly narrative paintings bridge history and contemporary experience, bringing a Renaissance sensibility to scenes of Harlem, Greenwich Village, and beyond. Through a masterful command of light, composition, and storytelling, he transforms everyday encounters into poetic reflections on character and place. Having spent recent years living and painting in the Catskills, Litaker returns to New York City with a body of work that is both deeply personal and profoundly connected to the urban landscape. Drawing on themes of resilience, memory, and community, his paintings capture the humanity, rhythm, and quiet dignity of daily life. “I paint to preserve,” Litaker says. “To hold the past and present in a single gesture, and to reveal the beauty of the stories that define us.” Whether depicting the warmth of a neighborhood bar, the pulse of city streets, or the stillness of rural light, James Litaker continues to celebrate the enduring spirit of the world he paints—one defined by history, connection, and heart.

Featured with "James Litaker" is "Echoes of Memory", a group show with Kathleen Gefell, Ralph Julius, Lesley A. Powell, and Thomas Wargo. Both shows will be open at Pictor Gallery from November 4th through November 29th (closed on Thanksgiving)!