For the last twenty-four years, Eric McRay has been cultivating his artistic influence and presence in North Carolina to wide audiences. That influence will be coming to Fayetteville in January 2024 with a new exhibit offering the African American experience from multiple perspectives.

Titled “Wings and Roots,” McRay’s exhibit will be comprised of collage paintings incorporating numerous artistic styles and influences. According to McRay, this includes components and influences from folk art, cubism, African art, modernism, and America, culminating in an “amalgam of images and influences to create striking images.” McRay sees his art, and this exhibit in particular, as an important exercise in reflection. He wants the viewer to see his work as a way to create dialogue and allow viewers to see what they want to see in the work. As a result of this approach, McRay has not always led with his ethnicity in his work but rather focuses on great art and “the result will take care of itself.”

Working out of his studio in Raleigh, McRay has been a full-time artist since February 1999 when he made the decision to harness his artistic craft and sensibilities that he has been honing since grade school. When asked at what point in his life did he realize he wanted to focus on his artistic talent, McRay provided a definitive moment: the first grade.

When his teacher was in awe of one of his drawings, she gathered teachers to view his impressive result. It was then that McRay had an epiphany and realized his work “had value beyond myself and that his artwork was his 'superpower.'” It was in fourth grade that he began generating revenue from his work by providing his classmates drawings for their supplies and other accouterments.

When it comes to the current exhibit and providing the community with access to his work, McRay emphasizes the importance of the invitation. Rather than taking a "if you build it, they will come" approach to his work, McRay focuses on "Build it and INVITE them and they will come."

That approach has served the artist well, as his work has been highlighted in numerous outlets, including Southern Living magazine which was a “game changer” for McRay’s career. Viewing himself as an art educator, McRay has ties to the Fayetteville community which includes having students from Fayetteville travel to Raleigh to take his art classes on occasion.

He also installed an art exhibit at the Fayetteville Museum of Art seventeen years ago and wanted to return to Fayetteville to share his latest work. For his "Wings and Roots" exhibit in January/February 2024, McRay wants “a lot of eyes to see this work” and is confident people will want to view it. It’s fair to say that members of the Fayetteville community will indeed want to as well.

The exhibition will be on display Jan. 29 to March 15. An artists' reception wil be held Feb. 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m..