Born in Port Chester, New York, Bruce McClain’s journey into the world of art started at a young age. After graduating from high school, he received a scholarship from Phoenix School of Design, New York City. There he honed his gift.

His mentor, Martin S. Friedman, was the first to discover Bruce’s love for art and kept him focused at a crucial time in his life. Jim Spanfeller also had a profound influence on his early love of art, but, it was Murray Tinkleman who had the greatest influence on him.

Mr. McClain’s work is provocative with story, causing one to react, to question, and to imagine.

Artist’s Statement

Vision ahead of execution & the wonders of uncertainty –always a virtue. These two seemingly opposite positions on the artistic spectrum constitute the mantra that I live by. In order for me to be truly creative, I must have courage.

To create and to not be limited by it, defines my journey. My voice lends voice to both human tragedy and to its discourse.

Featured Art Works

Bruce McClain’s artwork has been featured in the following publications:
Poetry Box
Veterans Voices
Pen Celebration—WWI Museum

Mr. McClain was featured on PBS ‘s “Veteran’s Voice’s” writing project where he was interviewed on the role that the project plays in the lives of Veterans as they learn to share their experiences with others through writing, poetry, prose or short stories.

Mr. McClain was honored to present a portrait titled, “Big Sonia” to Sonia Washawsky, a Holocaust survivor, detailing her experience at Auschwitz.

Poems In The Following Literary Anthologies

“Arts & Poetry,” Kansas City Veterans Voices (2017)
“Waiting days of grace,” “Remnant” Missouri (2017)
“Half Cast One” The Enigmatist Anthology (2917)
“Now Idle Times” Blue Hole Anthology, Texas (2017) “Year After Year”, “Enigmatist”, Kansas City Veteran’s Voices (2017)
Heart of America Shakespeare, sonnet “Remnant” First place

Published Books

Valley of the Mushroom Patch (1999)
Still: A Book of Love Poems (2015)
Elder Leaf (2023)

Published Illustrations

I-70 Review, Magazine, Ekphrastic art (2022)
Rattle Magazine, Ekphrastic art.
Anthology 2022, Poem “Remnant”. First published in 2017, Kansas City Voices.
Oh Say Can You See, poems, Arlin Buyert
Veteran’s Voices V.II (2017)
Retrospect of Madness, poems on Vietnam, Clint Jarred (2017)
“Ozarks Howler”, Eccentric American Poems, Kevin Perry (2017)
“The Gallaton Gallows.” Eccentric American Poems, Kevin Perry (2017)
“Paradise Plain,” Erik Kershner (2017)
“One Bridge Lane,” Erik Kershner (2017)

Art Exhibits

Mid Continent Library Blue Springs Mo. (November, 2017)
State of the Arts exhibition, art piece “Numbers”, Prairie Village, Kansas. State Arts Council (2017)
Box Gallery, Kansas City , (2018)
Art Exhibit, Sprouts Coffee, (2020 thru 2021) Commissioned Portrait of James Meredith, first African American to attend the university of Mississippi (2019).

Curriculum Design

Biblical Studies & Teachings, Aenon Bible College, 1980-1990’sArt Illustrations & Design Books, Berea Bible College 1990-1999’s
Curriculum Design for Teachings, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. 1970-1990’s

Awards

The Gladys Fields – Helzberg Award – for poem
“Waiting Days of Grace”
The Gladys Fields _ Helzberg Award _ for poem
“Against Her Will”

Mr. McClain is also a member of, The Writers Place, a literary community organization in Kansas City, Missouri