Pieces of the Picture
The art of Andrew Carter
Andrew is an artist currently living in Philadelphia. Working in oil, Andrew introduces the viewer to what can be seen as a mundane concept in the title then presents a dynamic visual production that goes behind the surface perception in several areas of life – from the physical to the psychological into the metaphysical.
ID #1 2009 (30x36, oil on canvas)
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Anatomy of Depression 1998 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Broken Dream 2000 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Portrait of Anxiety 1999 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Yahoo 1999 (36x48, oil on canvas)
A simple expression of joy
ID #2 2010 (36x48, oil on canvas)
In Dreams 2005 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Talking in My Sleep 2002 (36x48, oil on canvas)
The Devils Inside 2003 (36x46, oil on canvas)
Prayer 2000 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Vision and Perception 2004 (30x36, oil on canvas)
Inspired by the surrealistic dual reality of vision and perception.
The Emergence of Consciousness.
These three paintings, a snow leopard, a black panther, and the grey cub, represent the philosophical conjecture, that consciousness emerges from the distinction of dark from light. The series traces this emergence from the outset by the representation of light with the snow leopard, progresses to the darkness, represented by the black panther, and resulting with the ultimate emergence of consciousness, represented by the grey cub.
Snow Leopard (30×40, oil on canvas) 2025
Black Panther 2026 (30 × 40, oil on canvas)
The Emergence of Consciousness, 2026 (30 × 40, oil on canvas)
The Hierarchy of Light and Time, 2026 (30 × 40, oil on canvas)
This work captures the hierarchy of light and time. Time, defined as ontological time, temporal time, and phenomenological time, are represented by the music box ballerina, the grandfather clock, and the woman, respectively. Light, constructed as divine light, intellectual light, and physical light are represented here in a unique way. Physical light is shown here by the light breaking over the mountains in the distance and the light captured in the painting on the wall. Intellectual light is represented by what is not seen but is present intellectually. If you were to remove the walls in the painting, you would see the sun. In this case, we know, in our minds, that the sun is there, but is not seen. Divine light is represented by the dynamic between the ballerina pirouetting and the woman in the room. If the woman is seen as Mary, the mother of Christ, and then we note that the ballerina is reaching up, towards God, then the dynamic between the two, captures the divine light that interceded to bring about the immaculate conception.
Background Noise 2024 (30x40, oil on canvas)
A study of light in motion at different frequencies
More Noise, 2023 (30 × 40, oil on canvas)
330 East 83rd Street 2010 (30x40, oil on canvas)
East 83rd Street in Yorkville is typical of many of the small, side streets on the Upper East Side -resplendent in pillows of white dogwood flowers that bloom each spring. The colors of spring, recreated in this typical scene, help capture the brightness of the season.
Woman in Manhattan 2008 (36x48)
Man in Manhattan 2009 (36x48)
Sex and Violence – 2008 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Pursuit of Freedom
2023 (30x40, oil on canvas)
A Future Date – 2007 (30x40, oil on canvas)
The Yorkville Pub Series
Tuesday Afternoon, 2nd Avenue - 2002 (30x40)
Tuesday Afternoon, 2nd Avenue captures the seemingly mundane events of a Tuesday afternoon in a pub.
In this scene, we see three men at the bar: two of them looking out the window to the left and down the street. The third man, pensively reading the newspaper, perhaps looking for a job.
There is a mirror in the top right corner and reflects the bartender lighting the cigarette of a patron, presumably a female as evidenced by the gold chain that serves as a strap for her pocketbook on the table we see in the left foreground.
The Pool Game 2000 (36x48, oil on canvas)
Inspired by the Irish Pubs in Yorkville, the unfolding story captures the friendly yet competitive atmosphere of pub life in the late 1990’s.
In this scene, we are greeted with a group of men on the left, two couples, on the left and right, mingling. A woman in the rear, leaning on the pool table, and a man wearing a hat walking into the bathroom.
The woman leaning against the pool table has just won the game against the man headed into the bathroom The three men drinking in the front wagered on the match. The first bald man, with his hand on the money, won the bet.
The two agitated men in the front bet on the loser.
Meanwhile, the man in the white shirt with the big belly is sneaking his hand into the money pile of the man pointing at the bald man in front.
Wise to this, the bartender, out the side of his mouth, is telling the would-be thief to keep his hands to himself.
In a totally unrelated moment, the man in the black jacket is reaching into his pocket to present an engagement ring to his girlfriend, who stands on her tiptoes in anticipation.
The décor of the wood above the bar is a tribute to America and the arts. The emblems of Ireland’s four provinces are behind the bar on the wall.
Last Call at Brady’s 2003 (24x36)
Third in the pub series, Last Call at Brady’s captures the end of another pool game at the end of the day on the Upper East side.
In this scene, at about 4 a.m. on any given day of the week, we see the bartender in the foreground, five empty bar stools, and three men by the back end of the bar.
Upon inspection of the pool table in the back, we see all solid balls in the spent ball rack on the underside of the table. On the surface of the table, we a couple of striped balls and the eight ball.
The dejected man in the Phillies cap had run the table and sank all the solid balls. He only had to sink the eight ball to win the game, but he scratched and lost the game. The smiling man in the black sweater, who hadn’t taken a shot, won the game.
Prior to this, a group of women, entertained by the excitement of seeing a pool table being run in one turn of the game, quickly departed once the man scratched on the last shot.
Adding insult to injury, the man in the sweater pushing the broom is about to elbow the loser in the back of the head.
Late Night at the Back Page 2024 (24x36, oil on canvas)
Last in the pub series, Lat Night at the Back Page finds the five ladies who just watched the end of the pool game at Brady’s relocated to another popular Upper East Side sports bar, The Back Page.
A Modest Exhibition 2002
(36x48, oil on canvas)
Narcissus Plots His Revenge
2023 (30x 40, oil on canvas)
Venus’ Lament
2025 - (30 x 40, oil on canvas)
Yorkville Turning Point
2025 (40 x 30, oil on canvas )
319 East 83rd Street - Apt. 1-D
A Prayer to Saint Michael, 2025 (30 × 40, oil on canvas)
Untitled, 2025 (30 × 40, oil on canvas)
Fear of Love 2011
(36x48, oil on canvas)
Further examination of this seemingly benign street scene, taken from a brownstone in Rittenhouse Square, reveals a strange and hidden reaction to the implications and ultimate result of physical love; the birth of a child and the relationship that traditionally formed the basis of the family unit – marriage.
The emotional machinations these themes provoke can be seen in the action in the scene and in the blocks that make up the front wall of the house.
The Dinner Date
This series captures the anticipation, fun, joy, and pleasure of a dinner date, gone very well, on the Upper East Side.
Viewed together, the quickness of the progress of the date, from the couple’s entrance into the restaurant, to the last scene viewed from the window, captures the feeling of being swept off one’s feet.
Dinner Date Part 1 - Hello
2005 (24x36, oil on canvas)
Dinner Date Part II - Let’s Dance
2006 (24x36, oil on canvas)
Dinner Date Part III - Gelato?
2007 (24x36, oil on canvas)
Dinner Date Part, IV -Good Night
(2008, oil on canvas)
When They Said Yes (2015, 20x24)
Still Life In South Philadelphia
2020
(30x40, oil on canvas)
Inspired by the hours spent sitting on a front porch in South Philadelphia during the tumultuous summer of 2020, this simple street scene captures the peace and simple beauty of the neighborhood despite the unrest of the time.
Pine Street Studio
(2024, 30x40)
1046 Tasker Street
(2024, 30x40)
South Philly Kitchen 2021
Inspired by the Italian heritage of South Philadelphia, this series captures the simplicity, beauty, and heartiness of this vibrant element of the Italian American tradition.
Salt and Pepper
(11x14, oil on canvas)
Olive Oil, Garlic, Tomato, and Basil
(16x20, oil on canvas)
Steak, Onion, and Zucchini
(16x20, oil on canvas)
Coffee, Brandy, and Chocolate
(11x14, oil on canvas)
On Nationhood
These three pieces comprise the red, white, and blue of the American flag and the American society.
Red Leopard in the Dawn’s Early Light
(2022) (30x40, oil on canvas)
White Lion by Mt. Sinai
2022 (30x40, oil on canvas)
Blue Tiger and the Moon
(30x40, oil on canvas)
A Prayer Answered and Interrupted, 2025 (10×12, oil on board)
I heard a preacher say “When you pray, don’t ask God for things. Instead, ask God for the grace to become more like him.” After contemplation, I asked God that I may become more giving, loving, present, strong, and true. These characteristics are represented, respectively, by the extended hand, the couple holding hands, the hand touching the water, the man holding the ropes, and the hands on the Bible. I then contemplated the reality that we deal with in that, we are physical beings who deal with temptation and sin - elements that interrupt our connection with God. These factors are represented by the hand holding the apple that captures sin and temptation itself, the golden calf, which captures the false god of greed, the woman whispering in the man’s ear, which captures, gossip, and maybe lust, and, finally, the skull and candle, which captures the temporality of life.
Jesus in Hell 2008 (30x40)
In the Apostle’s Creed, following his crucifixion, Jesus descends into hell. In this imadg, Jesus is an energy in light form that cleaves the darkness of hell into bands of color. Meanwhile the hand of the devil, on the left, contemplates his next move.
The Divine Intervention (11x14, oil on canvas)
The Christmas Series 2020
Inspired by the events in the Christmas story, we see four moments that help define the event
The Annunciation (11x14, oil on canvas)
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The Nativity (11x14, oil on canvas)
The Trek of the Magi (11x14, oil on canvas)
