Corey McCall is a contemporary abstract/realist painter who lives and works in the Bay Area, California. A  native of Oakland, CA, his multi layered oil paintings focuses on social injustice and the beauty of various indigenous peoples, pay homage to his multicultural Bay Area foundation. His distinctive personal style emanates passion, conflicting emotions, and raw artistry expressing not only the vibrant spirit of his birthplace but also the continuing struggle against Black oppression in America.

Picturesque, layered, tree and flower landscapes and abstract yet realistic appearing nature scenes are all brought to life with contrasting and harmonious colors and bold compositions. Other paintings reveal much harsher emotions and struggle depicting images of blatant racism and American Black oppression. In one artwork, McCall uses a Malcom X quote incorporated into his painting, “They use us, to kill us, to blame us”. This powerful quote is entangled into much of his work, exploiting the hidden facts of American white supremacy.

As a youth, despite obvious adversity, McCall received prizes for his innate talent. Moving from Oakland, Ca to Pleasanton, Ca in the fifth grade he was immediately faced with an array of challenges and used art to aid him throughout his uphill childhood battle. From peers and their parents, to school and police authority, racism toward Black people was not only apparent but encouraged throughout the overly conservative town of Pleasanton. The only notoriety to be gained in his position would be through school art.

Immediately after high school, McCall enlisted into the US Navy at age 17. After serving his time in the military, he spent quite a few years in San Diego working for UPS and constantly exploring lands between the US and Mexico border. In due time, he succumbed to his true calling, and moved back to Oakland. McCall got married, started a family, bought a townhouse and moved to the local suburbs where he attended junior college and acquired his horticulture certificate. During his time at Las Positas Community College he took an art class where he bonded with his professor,  Monica Satterthwaite. She recognized his talent and took him under her wing. She encouraged him to further his practice and after tedious research, motivated him to apply to San Jose State University. After gaining acceptance to SJSU, within one semester was welcomed into their BFA pictorial arts program. Since then, he has found his purpose in life as an oil painter and will receive his bachelors of fine art degree in 2021.