Campbell-Lynn McLean: On Hissing Summer Lawns
Forthcoming exhibition
Overview
Campbell-Lynn McLean "The Hissing Lawn", oil on canvas, 36 x 72in
We are proud to announce Boston artist Campbell-Lynn McLean's first solo exhibition with our gallery.
Opening Reception
Friday July 11, 6:00- 8:00pm
Artist statement:
"Drawing from my own experiences, I spotlight and demystify the milieu of queer domesticity.
Focusing on themes of indulgence, partnership, and routine. This body of work is a love letter to abundance, consumption and good weather."
Scroll down to read the press release
Email info@laisunkeane.com for preview
Press release
Boston, MA — LaiSun Keane is pleased to present On Hissing Summer Lawns, the first solo exhibition by Boston-based artist Campbell-Lynn McLean, on view from July 3 to July 27, 2025. This exhibition offers a celebratory look at community, queerness, and the summer ritual of gathering around a barbecue.
For many, summer evokes a sense of leisure, connection, and warmth. McLean channels this spirit into a deeply personal narrative, drawing from joyful communal gatherings hosted on their own front lawn—spaces filled with food, laughter, beer, cigarettes, and close friends. While the exhibition takes its title from Joni Mitchell’s 1975 song The Hissing of Summer Lawns, which critiques the traditional concept of marriage, McLean subverts this message. Instead, their work paints a picture of queer domesticity that radiates with joy, freedom, and chosen family.
McLean’s unique approach to color—shaped by their experience with color blindness—adds another dimension to the work. Each canvas begins with a black base, creating a dramatic backdrop for the vivid contrasts that emerge. Despite the predominantly dark palette, works such as On Hissing Lawn, Grill Girls II, and Stupor Sketch burst with unexpectedly bright and energetic colors, emphasizing the exhibition’s celebratory undertones.
A graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) BFA program in 2022, McLean has received numerous honors, including the Stephen D. Paine Scholarship (2021) and the George Nick Award (2022). They were named Spotlight Artist at the Brookline Center for the Arts in October 2023, and were most recently selected as a SOLO Competition winner at Bromfield Gallery. McLean will begin their MFA studies at Boston University in the fall of 2025.
On Hissing Summer Lawns is both a reflection and a reclamation—a visual feast that speaks to belonging, memory, and the simple pleasures of summer lived freely.
Location: LaiSun Keane, 460C Harrison Ave C8A Boston MA 02118
Website: www.laisunkeane.com
For media inquiries, images, or to schedule an interview, please contact Laisun Keane at laisun@laisunkeane.com.
