Adam Umbach
Adam Umbach is an American contemporary artist whose playful paintings explore nostalgia, memory, and personal symbolism. Known for blending photorealistic depictions of childhood objects with expressive mark-making, his work resonates with collectors through emotional depth, conceptual clarity, and a distinctive visual language. With representation across international galleries and a growing presence at major art fairs, Umbach is a rising voice in American contemporary painting.
A defining aspect of his process is the use of his non-dominant hand to introduce spontaneous, imperfect mark-making. These gestures—lines, textures, and interruptions—emphasize the physical presence of the artist on the canvas and create a deliberate tension between precision and looseness. This interplay between technical control and expressive instability defines his visual language, where humor, loneliness, and nostalgia coexist.
Umbach’s practice is rooted in imagery drawn from coastal environments, shaped by time spent in mid-coast Maine and East Hampton. His recurring subjects—rubber ducks, teddy bears, pink flamingos, and toy boats—are rendered not as literal autobiographical references, but as forms that evoke shared memory. These familiar objects become vehicles for reflection, shifting between personal association and collective recognition. In his recent series, Umbach continues to explore memory and childhood through iconic objects such as Lego figures, mallard ducks, and balloons, often revisiting and recombining them across compositions. Each painting operates both independently and within a broader thematic framework, expanding his ongoing investigation into how familiar imagery accumulates emotional weight over time.
Born in Chicago in 1986, Umbach currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. His paintings have been featured in Elle Décor, Hamptons Magazine, Maine Public, and Brooklyn Paper, among other publications. His work appeals to collectors seeking contemporary painting that merges technical skill with emotional resonance, and continues to gain recognition within the landscape of American contemporary art.
WORKS ON VIEW - 2026 SUMMER ONLY
AVAILABLE WORKS
Education
2009 B.F.A., Painting, University of Wisconsin Stout
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2026: Clear Skies, JR Gallery, Berlin, Germany
The Weight of Play, Carousel Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2025: Bloom Baby Bloom, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, New York, NY
On the Bright Track, Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, ME
2024: Art Miami, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, Miami, FL
Finding Home, Carver Hill Gallery, Rockland, ME
Sh*t Out of Luck, Furlong Gallery University of Wisconsin Stout, Memomonie, WI
2023: Never Grow Up, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, New York, NY
2022: Reboot: All Play, No Work, Carver Hill Gallery, Rockland, ME (with Kaylie Kaitschuck)
Whimsical Waters, Roman Fine Art, Sag Harbor, NY
2021: Newfound American Freedom, Chase Edwards Contemporary, Bridgehampton, NY
Halcyon Daze, Roman Fine Art, Sag Harbor, NY
2018: Sweet Things, Janet Lehr Fine Arts, East Hampton, NY (with Adam Handler)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2026: Slattery Gallery, Southampton, NY (upcoming)
Posy, Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, ME
2025 : Season Favorites, Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, ME
Land & Sea, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, Greenwich, CT
Season Starter, Chase Edwards Contemporary, Bridgehampton, NY
Seasonal Soiree, JR Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2024 The Palm Beach Show, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, Palm Beach, FL
Chelsea Summer Show, Cavalier Ebanks Galleries, New York, NY
Spontaneity, Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, IL
2023 Art Palm Beach Fair, Cavalier Galleries, Palm Beach, FL
Inaugural Group Exhibition, Cavalier Galleries, New York, NY
2022 Eye-Fi, Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, ME
Life, Death, Hereafter, NYC Culture Club, New York, NY
C/overt Observation, Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, IL
Winter Group Show, Cavalier Galleries, Palm Beach, FL
Re:Emergence, Circle 46 Gallery, Hudson, NY
2021 Facts and Fictions, Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, IL
Fall Group Show, Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich, CT
Summer Group Show, Cavalier Galleries, Nantucket, MA
Talismans, Monica King Projects, New York, NY
2020 Bohemian City NYC, Group Installation, New York, NY
Bohemian City Bubblegum, Havens, Sag Harbor, NY
2019 Bohemian City Miami, Basel Group Showcas,, Miami, FL
Subtle Impact, White Room Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
Members’ Show, Guild Hall, East Hampton, NY
2018 Art on the Edge, Janet Lehr Fine Arts, East Hampton, NY
Spring Showing, Janet Lehr Fine Arts, East Hampton, NY
Sweet Things, Janet Lehr Fine Arts, East Hampton, NY
