These recent expressionist figure paintings have, at first glance, a look of importance. Unfortunately, upon closer inspection one realizes that their importance does not maintain itself. The main problem with McGarrell’s work is that others have done it better. McGarrell has received some prestige and, one assumes, sales, based most probably on all of the recent return-to-the-figure publicity. The paintings are competent, but they make one wish for a good Francis Bacon show to set a standard for this sort of painting.

—Donald Factor